Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, standing alone, are shown to be of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional evidentiary development, including a VA SMP aid and attendance/housebound examination. The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound will be assessed based on his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disorder manifested during his active service and granted service connection for coronary artery disease. The issue of sleep apnea is remanded as a VA examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an effective date earlier than May 14, 2002, for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease and special monthly compensation based on being housebound for accrued benefit purposes. The earliest indication of a diagnosis was in May 2002.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease is granted, and he is now rated at 60 percent effective June 8, 2013. The issue of service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to ischemic heart disease is also granted. A timely notice of disagreement was filed with the denial of PTSD in November 2013. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to June 8, 2013 is granted.

The Veteran's back disability and current coronary artery disease are found to be related to service, while his right knee condition is not.

The appeal is being remanded due to the receipt of new evidence, and a VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, status post coronary artery bypass surgery with implanted pacemaker, did not manifest during service or within one year of service and is against a finding that it is related to service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, rated at 30 percent from January 7, 2011, to January 12, 2016, is now rated at 60 percent effective January 7, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosis during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance prior to his death was not considered due to other underlying conditions, leading to denial of SMC based on this issue.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Veteran's possible active duty period from January 1962 to January 1966.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, to include as due to herbicide exposure, was denied because there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service, including exposure to toxins and contaminants. The claims for peripheral neuropathy, colon polyps, diabetes mellitus, neck tumor, abdominal hernia, bilateral inguinal hernias, and coronary artery disease have all been denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, including perforated diverticulitis and other chronic diseases. The VA needs to verify if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Thailand during his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence regarding herbicide exposure, radiation exposure, and service connection.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to his exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and readjudication due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is granted service connection for ischemic heart disease for purposes of retroactive benefits under the Nehmer v. United States Department of Veterans Affairs decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further verification of his Vietnam service and exposure history.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for heart disease as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the service-connected condition caused or contributed substantially to death. The cause of death was sudden cardiac arrest.