Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid disorder, asthma, eczema, sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disability (likely PTSD), diabetes mellitus, type II, and heart disease. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for keloids of the left ear and neck.

The appeal is being remanded to complete necessary testing and ensure proper evaluation of the Veteran's coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's cardiac disability, including chronic congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation, was rated at 100% disabling from July 10, 2008 to February 5, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new evaluations or service connections.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and the need for addendum opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection for his eye disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction require additional development due to new evidence received after the last adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and status post total left knee replacement were denied due to lack of a nexus between service and current disability. The claim for IHD was not addressed as it is not part of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on secondary to herbicide exposure has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling prior to May 16, 2012. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU for his service-connected disabilities prior to May 10, 2011.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are not the proximate cause of or aggravated his hypertension. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, to include coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder. The claim for viremia is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for coronary artery disease was denied, and his TDIU claim prior to May 29, 2012, was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's heart condition, to include hypertension, is not related to his military service and was not incurred due to herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his satisfaction with the June 2017 decisions regarding increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD, as well as service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and TDIU.

The Veteran's cause of death (encephalopathy, congestive cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease) is not service-connected as the evidence does not show a nexus to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, or a heart disability due to herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease was granted a 30 percent rating from June 19, 2008 to April 5, 2010. The appeal is not about service connection and thus the conditions are evaluated under direct service connection.