Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). The case will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess whether the Veteran has ischemic heart disease. The claim will then be adjudicated again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and heart disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for temporary total rating, service connection for COPD, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claim for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease and PTSD with depression was not addressed as it involves issues referred to another RO.

The Veteran's appeal for the reduction of his disability rating for ischemic heart disease was dismissed because he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The remaining claims have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding increased ratings for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, right ankle degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine degenerative changes, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic branch), right shoulder degenerative joint disease, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, heart disorder, and other related conditions. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a heart disability. The Veteran's current heart disability is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected depressive disorder NOS, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for heart disability are not supported by the evidence, and he does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service-connected ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass grafting) because the earliest evidence of the condition is from September 8, 1994. The claim was received on November 22, 2006, and thus the effective date remains at that time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service connection awards of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease. The effective date for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease was determined to be February 27, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, tinnitus, heart attack (CAD), erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral leg condition. The Veteran's cardiovascular issues were not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's death was caused by a stroke, which the VA doctor opined was due to his service-connected type II diabetes with peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and medication for ischemic heart disease. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. However, there is no evidence in the file at the date of death that would have supported a claim for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD. The VA examiner found that the Veteran did not meet all criteria for PTSD and his symptoms were better explained by other diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for most of his claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disorders. The only condition found by the Board with a possible link to service is dementia, but this was many years after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate condition is not service connected, as it does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide agent exposure. The heart conditions are also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disorder as secondary to his service-connected deviated septum. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease was granted, and he is now receiving a 60% disability rating since May 20, 2016. The Board found that the evidence supported this increase in rating based on his history of multiple angioplasties and stents.

The Veteran's heart disability was rated at 10 percent prior to September 14, 2010 and at 30 percent from September 15, 2010 onwards.,The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as 30 percent since September 15, 2010.