Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and records are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed heart disorder, hypertension, circulatory system disorders, gastroparesis, and kidney disorder. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension claim was denied in January 2007, but new evidence has not raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction due to service-connected conditions.,Service connection for PVD is denied as it is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. Service connection for CAD was granted with a 60% rating, effective June 1, 2014.,The Veteran's hypertension claim remains pending and the Board did not address any other claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent from August 20, 2011 to July 25, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and denied the claim for an increased rating. The heart disability issue is remanded due to lack of recent medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was received by VA on September 30, 2011. The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 30, 2011 for the award of TDIU.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted, with an effective date of June 10, 2008. The case was remanded multiple times and the Veteran received increased ratings in December 2016.

The Board has found that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hypothyroidism, including whether it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and/or coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was granted effective May 15, 2012. The decision also grants a TDIU from October 13, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including intestinal condition (diverticulitis), skin disability (residuals of dermatitis venenata), right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability (major depression), heart disability, and prostate disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these disabilities began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart condition has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claim remains pending as further verification is needed regarding his exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 30 percent rating for service-connected diabetic nephropathy from February 3, 2004 is granted. The appeals for increased ratings for coronary artery disease with hypertension and more than a 10 percent rating for service-connected diabetic retinopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial schedular rating greater than 30 percent for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is denied. The matter of entitlement to a higher initial rating for IHD remains before the Board, as does the issue of TDIU prior to September 12, 2016.

The Board denied the claim for waiver of overpayment of VA nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that repayment would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has denied a higher rating.,Service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) to include as secondary to service-connected hypertension has been granted.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The rating for his depressive disorder and adjustment disorder needs to be remanded, as does the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and heart disabilities due to conflicting opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran's service treatment records indicate complaints of low back pain, but a negative nexus opinion was provided by the examiner.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a heart disorder are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, heart condition (hypertension), and hay fever is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, hypertension, heart disability, scars associated with a heart disability, headache disability, and psychiatric disability. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.