Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and stroke. The Board has determined that the current evidence does not confirm his exposure to herbicides in Okinawa, Japan, which could affect his claims for these conditions.

The appellant withdrew her appeal for service connection of ischemic heart disease, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, with the exception that he met the percentage requirements for a TDIU on March 12, 2009. The Board finds that his claim for an extra-schedular TDIU prior to March 12, 2009 is remanded.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease should be set at March 2, 1998, as this is the earliest date on which a diagnosis was made.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure or other toxins during service, and the Veteran's current disabilities are not linked to his military service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease, both claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,New evidence received since the August 2012 rating decision did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not the cause of his need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate. The VA has determined that other conditions, including a cerebral infarction, are responsible for these needs.

The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran had coronary artery disease as a complication of diabetes prior to April 17, 2009. Therefore, the effective date for service connection of CAD is denied.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including atrial fibrillation, did not manifest in service and is not related to his diabetes mellitus or herbicide exposure. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder, including coronary artery disease, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year after separation from service or for many years thereafter and is not related to an in-service injury, event or illness. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion on secondary service connection and addressing the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed heart conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, singly or jointly with some other condition, were not the immediate or underlying cause of death or etiologically related thereto; nor did they contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's cause of death.,Cancer was first shown years post-service and is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and an effective date prior to September 16, 2014 for the award of a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) were granted. The appeal regarding severance of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating under VA guidelines. The RO should also consider whether he is eligible for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for malaria residuals, diabetes mellitus type 2, and a heart disorder have been reopened. The evidence submitted is new and material to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 has also been reopened with the submission of additional medical evidence linking his current condition to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, including a medical opinion regarding whether his frostbite in service contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection is granted.