Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left orchiectomy (left testicle injury), prostate disorder, bladder disorder, heart disease, and hypertension have been denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability is not service-connected and denied his claim. The reduction of his bilateral hearing loss rating from 40% to 30% was implemented, but the decision on whether this reduction was proper remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from Dr. Hoeper and scheduling a VA examination to assess the functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran is entitled to specially adapted housing due to multiple disabilities, including the loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with residuals of organic disease or injury that so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. The special home adaptation grant claim is moot.

The Veteran's heart condition is not service connected due to lack of a chronic disease manifestation within one year post-service. The Board finds that the current diagnosed valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation are less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury, event, or illness. For fatigue and sleep disturbance, there is no separate diagnosis but they are associated with undiagnosed illnesses due to environmental exposures.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for CAD was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to February 9, 2016 and 60 percent thereafter. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the service-connected CAD disability alone does not preclude employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a lack of substantial compliance with the June 2016 Board remand directives. The claim will be returned for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent rating, but no higher. The Board finds the Veteran entitled to at least a 70 percent rating for his PTSD.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on PTSD and SMC due to multiple service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, shell fragment wounds, and PTSD. The combined disability rating is 90 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private medical records, ensuring all notification letters are associated with the file, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for headaches and hypertensive heart disease, finding that there was no probative evidence showing a direct link between his current conditions and his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development, including consideration of additional medical evidence submitted by the appellant. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for coronary artery disease is pending.

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

The Board denied service connection for kidney and heart disabilities based on the absence of evidence showing these conditions during or after military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his hypertension, coronary artery disease, Barrett's metaplasia, and lung condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart disorder, diagnosed as a bicuspid aortic valve, status post valve surgery. The evidence received since the May 1978 RO decision shows that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's heart disability is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The Veteran does not have a current bilateral eye disability.,Service connection for right and left hip disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements, and there are no exceptional or unusual factors that would render application of the schedule impractical. The VA examinations and SSA evaluations indicate that the Veteran is capable of performing sedentary work.