Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease due to lack of a current diagnosis. The issue of service connection for multiple sclerosis is remanded as the Veteran's medical records do not provide sufficient evidence to determine if he currently has this condition or if it was present during his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disorder, bone spurs of the feet (right), bronchitis, strep throat, and heart disorder are all denied. However, the Veteran is granted service connection for a current right ear hearing loss disability with a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection as presumptively caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for left ear hearing loss, a left eye condition, tinnitus, lung disease, heart condition, hypertension and hypertensive heart disease, deep venous thrombosis, left arm embolism, edema, and erectile dysfunction are all remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability, erectile dysfunction, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea have been granted. The appeals are based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, heart disability (ischemic heart disease), and sleep apnea has been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence received since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases for denying a higher rating for coronary artery disease. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine his current severity.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 60 percent since February 23, 2016. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 70 percent rating from May 21, 2014 onwards.

The Board is remanding the case due to incomplete adjudication of referred issues and need for a VA medical opinion regarding service connection for the cause of death. The appellant's claims for ischemic heart disease and malignant multiple myeloma are also being referred.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is granted, but her migraine headaches and heart disorder are remanded for further examination. Her stress urinary incontinence and herpes simplex virus (HSV) and herpes zoster are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of exposure to herbicide agents, which is a key factor in determining service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected disabilities. A 70 percent disability rating is assigned for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gonococcal arthritis and cardiac arrhythmia and premature ventricular contraction (claimed as a heart condition) due to lack of new and material evidence, and because there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for drug and alcohol abuse as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder. The decision also deferred adjudication of issues regarding heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and TDIU due to inextricably intertwined nature with the primary claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD and CAD, are being reviewed to determine if they contributed to his cause of death. A VA medical opinion is needed to assess the impact of these conditions on his death. The DIC claim for the Appellant is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various disabilities, including left and right shoulder disabilities, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disability (CAD), left and right wrist disabilities, and paralysis of the median nerve. The Veteran withdrew his appeals for these issues during a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 12, 2017.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is currently rated at a 60 percent evaluation for the entire appeal period, based on his left ventricular ejection fraction being between 50-55 percent and symptoms including dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope occurring at workloads of greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for hypertensive heart disease, hypertension (HTN), and supraventricular arrhythmia. The appeal of service connection for OSA was remanded due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for cardiac ischemia is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and a stomach disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest during or are otherwise related to his military service.