Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the threshold eligibility requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that the evidence does not warrant referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's cardiac disability is rated at a 60 percent rating since March 27, 2013. He also receives SMC at the housebound rate effective December 2, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass grafting, as it was not due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety and depression, was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to manage his VA benefit payments due to significant cognitive impairments, including dementia and PTSD.

The Veteran's sinusitis with allergic rhinitis is currently rated at 30 percent, effective May 31, 2013. The Board finds that the evidence does not meet or more nearly reflect the criteria for a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability is not etiologically related to his military service or his posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a result, the claim for service connection for heart disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiner and incomplete treatment records. The case is now pending again with instructions to obtain all relevant medical records and provide a new opinion regarding the onset of coronary artery disease during service or its relation to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be secondary to her service-connected PTSD and has been granted a 30% rating effective June 21, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an addendum opinion from the April 2017 VA examiner regarding the reason why a METs exercise test was not administered on him. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal in May 2017.

The Veteran is granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and hypertension as due to herbicide agent exposure in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether he had tinnitus, and granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection for PTSD was granted effective August 13, 2012, which is also the earliest available effective date for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents while in the Republic of Vietnam.,Service connection for IHD is established, but his cervical spine disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board granted service connection for CAD with atherosclerotic heart disease and assigned a 60 percent rating effective March 7, 2016. The Veteran's current level of disability is characterized by a workload of greater than 3 METs but less than 5 resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and hypertension meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined effect on his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and awarded an initial rating of 10% for coronary artery disease, effective August 27, 2008. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 7005 for coronary artery disease. The Board found that his METs level due solely to his cardiac condition was between 7 and 10 METs, which meets the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for CAD, service connection for obstructive lung disease and GERD. The claim for service connection for CAD was granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicidal agents (PACT Act).