Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure. Service connection is also granted for hypertension secondary to ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bladder dysfunction, CAD, diabetes mellitus, Type II) are considered to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from COPD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, heart disease, prostate hypertrophy, chloracne, diabetes mellitus, type II, and headaches have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating, as PTSD does not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with stenting associated with hypertension, dizziness and fatigue is rated at 60 percent since January 26, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for CAD was dismissed due to his withdrawal at the July 2015 hearing.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was denied as there is no credible evidence that the current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, hip disorder, diabetes, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board granted total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for a heart disability and exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's in-service heart sound abnormalities need to be addressed, along with any potential link to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The claim for TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a rating of 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease, which has been rated at 10 percent since March 22, 2011. The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence of current severity and manifestations of the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD and CAD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including whether it is related to service-connected asbestosis.

The Board denied service connection for neck, right shoulder, and right foot neuroma disorders. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not linked to his active service due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for coronary artery disease was also denied as the Veteran did not have any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, as due to herbicide exposure. The claim for ischemic heart disease is remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not cause or aggravate his myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, which were listed as causes of death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, both claimed to be due to herbicide agent exposure during service. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of in-service injury or disease, continuous symptoms since separation from service, or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and stroke, both secondary to service-connected varicose veins, due to incomplete opinions in the March 2013 VA examination.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent disabling from September 9, 2015. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they were consistent with a 30 percent disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for further development of medical evidence, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's CAD is caused or aggravated by his service-connected pulmonary histoplasmosis and a psychiatric examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his psychiatric disability.