Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, skin cancer, and prostate cancer are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran died of cardiac arrest resulting from heart and lung conditions. The service records do not show any evidence of exposure to chemicals or herbicide agents, nor does the medical evidence link his death to service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability.,Service-connected disabilities did not cause the Veteran to be in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound before his death.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, post-myocardial infarction, was evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The VA Board found that the evidence did not show a workload greater than 5 METs or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy/dilation.

The Veteran was granted a 100% disability rating for coronary artery disease from June 3, 2003 to September 30, 2003 due to the need for coronary bypass surgery.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and his service at the RTAFB in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and coronary artery disease are being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CAD, type 2 diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and PVD, all as not being causally connected to active service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a heart condition, which he claims is related to herbicide exposure during basic training. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if Agent Orange was used and whether his current heart disorder is related to this exposure or to his service-connected seizure disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder did not manifest during service and is not attributable to any aspect of service, including an inservice diagnosis of a functional/innocent heart murmur. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's CAD was less likely than not related to active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the factual need for the aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran is service-connected for CAD and supraventricular arrhythmia, which precludes him from securing and following substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The VA will seek clarification on the nature of the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and other environmental hazards during his service.

The Board found no current right knee disability and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, skin disabilities of the feet and hands, a heart murmur, bilateral hearing loss, high liver enzymes, anemia, and a penile deformity.

The Veteran has a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board grants service connection for this condition on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's heart disability has been rated at 100% since June 4, 2013. It was increased to 30% from September 24, 2015, and to 60% as of March 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoporosis is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected valvular heart disease, specifically due to Coumadin use for such condition.

The Veteran's heart disorder (including ischemic heart disease) is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The other conditions are not granted as service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted with an effective date of February 26, 2014. The heart disorder claim is secondary to the service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the causation and aggravation prongs of a secondary service connection claim for atrial flutter. The Veteran's heart condition is claimed as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including issuance of a statement of the case on accrued benefits and service connection issues. The appeal is deferred pending completion of this development.