Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ needs to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure at U.S. Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, Patuxent Naval Air Station, and Webster Air Field.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded due to incomplete development. The Board notes that the Veteran has a history of exercise-induced hypertension, premature ventricular contractions, and an ascending aortic aneurysm involving the aortic root, which may preclude him from undergoing an exercise stress test.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II to include as secondary to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his active duty at Nakhon Phanom, Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides. The Board found the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran set foot in Vietnam while aboard the USS Long Beach.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and interpretation of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, as it is unclear whether this condition is related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.,The Veteran needs to undergo a VA examination to determine if his current sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange while in service, specifically during his alleged flights from Okinawa to Da Nang for aircraft repairs. The claim will be reconsidered with the additional logbooks provided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 17, 2012. However, beginning on April 17, 2012, his combined disability rating was 100 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The claims for hypertension, prostate condition, and heart condition have been dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for SLE was previously denied in June 1979, but reopened due to new evidence submitted by the Appellant. The Board found that there is no direct service connection for SLE as it did not occur during active duty.,Service connection for CAD was granted based on herbicide exposure, and an effective date earlier than August 31, 2010, was established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease was granted with an effective date of January 13, 2015. This decision is based on the receipt of a formal application to reopen his previously denied claim for heart disease, which came within one year of the informal claim he submitted in January 13, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure, but the heart disability claim is remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it is related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease, PTSD, and diabetes mellitus type 2 have rendered him unemployable. The case is remanded to obtain updated medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for CAD was denied, and he was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope at a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs. The maximum schedular rating is 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease was denied, and his TDIU based on service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran currently has a diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction. The examiner is required to provide a thorough explanation for any discrepancies in the records.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and met the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his sleep disorder claim, as well as the rating of his coronary artery disease. The issues are intertwined due to the potential overlap between the two conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hand tremors, and heart disability due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.