Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and coronary artery disease, both presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure during the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agents in service, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD) is currently rated at 30 percent prior to April 22, 2013 and at 100 percent since that date.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran served near the DMZ during his assignment and was exposed to herbicides. Therefore, service connection for ischemic heart disease on a presumptive basis is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for CAD was granted. He is now entitled to a disability rating of 60 percent for his CAD, effective June 20, 2006 through January [redacted], 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Thailand, which contributed to his death from ischemic heart disease. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the July 2014 Board hearing and the need for additional development regarding actual exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate and extension of benefits from September 22, 2011 to June 23, 2014. The RO implemented a decision that granted service connection for coronary artery disease with an effective date of June 8, 1995, but denied earlier SMC based on the Veteran's disability ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have ischemic heart disease or diabetes mellitus type II due to service connection, as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and the conditions were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected status post basal skull fracture is not manifested by skull loss without brain hernia.,The Veteran does not have a current heart disorder.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral foot disability that had onset in service or is related to his active military service.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of a bilateral knee disability that had onset during service. The Veteran's current condition was diagnosed many years after separation from service and there is no medical opinion linking it to service.,The Veteran does not have a current heart condition that had onset in service or is related to his active military service, including his service-connected asbestos pulmonary disease.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of hypertension that had onset during service. The Veteran's current condition was diagnosed many years after separation from service and there is no medical opinion linking it to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of a compensable manifestation of coronary artery disease or tuberculosis prior to December 14, 2009. The Board found that the earliest date upon which VA had constructive possession of evidence showing the Veteran's CAD had manifested to a compensable degree is December 14, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and updated medical records to determine the severity of his PTSD, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, left eye keratitis, coronary heart disease, upper extremity radiculopathy, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are also being reviewed for service connection based on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and ischemic heart disease, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to August 28, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU rating based on this finding.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicide agents and potential deployment in Vietnam or Thailand.

The Veteran's hypertension is service-connected, but his heart disorder other than cardiomyopathy with coronary artery calcification and diabetes mellitus are not. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus remains at a 20% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the appellant's claimed stressor, treatment records, and medical opinions for his low back, left knee, heart, and kidney disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to November 3, 2010.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease, claimed as ischemic heart disease, due to exposure to herbicides. The Board has remanded the case for additional development including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination.