Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present heart disability. The issues on appeal will be readjudicated after all necessary steps are taken.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for Charcot of the left foot is also granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination to determine the etiology of any diagnosed heart disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was received on February 26, 2004. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at February 26, 2004.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and a heart disability due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease, status post CABG two times and history of myocardial infarctions as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, finding no evidence of a prior claim filed before May 1, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. Therefore, his claims for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease cannot be granted based on presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and hypertension have all been dismissed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his back and cervical spine conditions, require regular aid and attendance of another person. As a result, the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance are met.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease has not been manifested by congestive heart failure, a workload of 3 METs or less resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent. Therefore, the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including skin disease, right shoulder disorder, elbow disorder, low back disorder, knee disorders, left ankle disorder, foot disorders, pulmonary disorder, and heart disorder. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen the claim of skin disease, and that none of the other conditions were related to service or a pre-existing disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin rash, back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and heart disability. The evidence submitted since previous decisions was found to be cumulative or redundant.

The Veteran's basic eligibility for specially adapted housing was denied as he does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing on the issue of entitlement to automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was not incurred in service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a request for a video hearing. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart condition is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service and finds in his favor on both issues of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether his condition had its onset during service. The heart condition issue and hearing loss rating are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of exposure to toxins while in service and examinations to determine the cause of his disabilities.