Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran seeks service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ needs to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure at U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, from July 1959 to February 1960, and at Patuxent Naval Air Station from February 1960 to December 1962.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, which was previously rated at 60 percent, should now be rated at 30 percent effective September 1, 2013. This reduction is proper based on evidence showing sustained improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease have rendered him unemployable for the period prior to December 6, 2011. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU based on his education and work history.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and deck logs. The Veteran's death is being considered for service connection due to a heart condition that may have been aggravated by service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's death was not caused by ischemic heart disease, and the service connection for IHD as secondary to herbicide exposure is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain information about the Veteran's employment history, clarify his PTSD symptoms and severity, update his right foot callouses rating, and provide opinions regarding the etiology of his diabetes, heart disorder, lower extremity disorders, and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosed heart disability and the evidence does not support service connection for one. The Board finds that his symptoms do not constitute a diagnosable heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral lower extremity polyneuropathy, but reopened the claim for service connection for a heart disability. No compensable rating was assigned for any condition.

The Veteran's nonobstructive coronary artery disease was manifested by a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs, resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope, and with evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation on electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or X-ray. The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disability, diagnosed as coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service, was not noted to be chronic during service, and was not demonstrated in or related to an occurrence during active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure the appellant receives proper VCAA notice and to obtain pertinent medical records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder due to exposure to herbicides, finding that the claim was decided on the merits without involving any presumption or new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder were not granted. The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that any current disability was related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or caused by his service, and thus denied service connection for this condition.,Service connection for coronary artery disease with status post-myocardial infarction was granted as a direct result of evidence showing it was incurred during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's coronary artery disease, with previous myocardial infarction and implantation of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and type II diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence supporting herbicide agent exposure during his service in the Panama Canal Zone.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease and atherosclerotic disease is granted as these conditions are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease has been rated at 100 percent since August 20, 2007.