Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for pulmonary fibrosis and denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart disease. The decision is based on the evidence showing that pulmonary fibrosis may be related to in-service asbestos exposure, while COPD and heart disease are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has found that more evidence is needed to decide the claims for service connection for various disabilities, and has ordered a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) with consideration of new VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, heart disability (including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease), obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disability. The Veteran is to be provided with a VA examination regarding his claimed tinnitus.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease prior to June 7, 2018 was rated at 10 percent due to symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, and syncope. Since June 7, 2018, the disability has been rated at 30 percent based on cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, including glaucoma with right eye blindness, right carotid artery stenosis with right hemisphere CVA (stroke), coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus type II. The VA will obtain a formal finding from the Joint Services Records Research Center regarding the Veteran's exposure in Okinawa.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for his heart disability. The claims for these conditions are based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Board has previously remanded the claims for service connection multiple times. The Veteran's claims are being returned to VA for additional development as per previous instructions.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction with an implanted pacemaker is dismissed.,VA benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, of the United States Code are denied prior to January 26, 2018 due to lack of a permanent total disability rating for service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

An earlier effective date of March 18, 2016 for the award of service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is granted.,No effective date prior to January 28, 2014 for residuals of prostate cancer as there was no formal or informal claim received before that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and his service connection for ischemic heart disease. The Veteran needs further clarification on his presence in the DMZ or exposure to herbicide, and a VA examination is required to determine if his current heart condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that none of his disabilities attributable to presumed exposure to herbicide agents caused or contributed to his death. The immediate cause of death was sepsis, which began shortly before the Veteran's death while hospitalized.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was granted with a rating of 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claims for service connection for colon cancer and hypertension were reopened based on new evidence submitted since their previous denials. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was not granted higher evaluations for his coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, or PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant is remanded due to the need for further examination and assessment of his service-connected disabilities, particularly those affecting his lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and no chronic symptoms since service. The claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for lumbar spondylosis and degenerative changes of the right shoulder joint. The Board also ordered a remand for verification of the Veteran’s dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). Additionally, the Board requested additional VA treatment records and scheduled the Veteran for a sinus examination to assess his claimed disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, diagnosed as other specified trauma disorder, is granted service connection. Service connection for hyperlipidemia is denied. The heart disability, ischemic heart disease and bradycardia, status post myocardial infarction and pacemaker implantation, is granted service connection. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension are both granted service connection. Service connection for a respiratory/lung disability and bilateral cataracts remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his coronary artery disease, assess whether a bilateral leg disability (PVD) is related to service or service-connected conditions, and evaluate his eligibility for TDIU.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle injury and has remanded the issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease, to include as due to herbicide exposure. The case is being returned to the RO/AMC for further action.