Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service connection claims for gout, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, and heart disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service, and there is insufficient medical nexus evidence to link them to service.,There are no findings of OSA in the Veteran's service records, and the earliest diagnosis was several years after separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board will address the issues on remand.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. His tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery bypass graft with residual scar, is effective as of May 26, 1998.

The Veteran's appeals for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain Quality Assurance records related to his MRSA infection.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease was granted, and he is now rated at 100 percent effective May 8, 2017. The Board also found that the Veteran met the criteria for TDIU from August 31, 2010 to May 6, 2015 due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation in the applicable period.

The Veteran's service from March 12, 1972 to April 10, 1972 is recognized, meeting the criteria for veteran status.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was not denied prior to November 15, 2007. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted as the Veteran did not file a claim or have a pending claim for ischemic heart disease prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the cause of death and to consider the nonservice-connected burial benefits claim in light of the service connection issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to reschedule his hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and obtaining VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal was granted as he filed a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the February 2006 VA rating decision, which resulted in the denial of service connection for various conditions and an increase in rating for esophagitis. The remaining issues were decided on their merits.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease/CAD, status post CABG was rated at 60 percent prior to January 13, 2015, and increased to 100 percent effective that date. The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's dysthymia with PTSD was rated at 30 percent.,The Board found no basis for a higher rating for any of the conditions.

The Board's May 2013 decision is dismissed as the Veteran did not provide a clear and specific allegation of CUE in any of the issues decided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, heart disorder (secondary to PTSD), and an effective date earlier than December 17, 2008, for PTSD. The Board also declined to revise or reverse a January 21, 1960, VA rating decision on CUE.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and thus could not establish service connection for ischemic heart disease or diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis. The Board also determined that there was insufficient evidence of an in-service event, injury, or illness related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal is being returned to the RO for readjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder did not manifest during service, was not diagnosed within a year of separation, and is not etiologically related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection for a heart disorder is denied.