Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery bypass graft disability was rated at 100% from November 16, 2006 to February 28, 2007 due to the need for hospitalization following surgery. The rating has since been reduced.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for headaches has been granted, with the highest available rating of 50 percent effective from July 2006. The remaining claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or intent to apply for benefits before April 7, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for various issues related to his service-connected conditions, including a TDIU claim, was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals of Issues 1-6 on the title page. The Board granted a TDIU from November 1, 2011, to November 18, 2012.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease, and the Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new evidence supports a diagnosis of depressive disorder related to his active service. However, there is no current diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus or ischemic heart disease at any point during the appeal period.

The Board found no credible evidence of the Veteran's service in Vietnam, and thus he cannot be presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents. The VA attempted to verify his exposure in Panama but found no evidence of such exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for anxiety disorder and service connection for coronary artery disease are pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected asbestosis and determine its impact on his employability.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension secondary to PTSD, aortic regurgitation, diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, mild enlargement of the right and left atria, thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm dissection (secondary to hypertension), and paraplegia associated with spinal cord ischemia (secondary to thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm dissection).

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed heart condition, and the VA examiner found no evidence of such during the examination. Therefore, service connection for a heart condition is denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during active service, nor are they related to any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. The Board finds that the conditions did not manifest within one year after discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since July 6, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current heart disability and that his chest pains are related to his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Therefore, the claim for service connection for a heart disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disability and headaches due to incomplete medical opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service occurrence, and there was no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and left shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The Veteran's service-connected conditions were rated under the appropriate diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective October 26, 2009. However, the Veteran's condition does not warrant an increased rating.