Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran developed a ruptured spleen following a VA colonoscopy, which was not foreseeable and caused by the procedure. The additional disability is granted.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's coronary artery disease or left hip fracture were caused by the September 2012 VA colonoscopy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for organic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his in-service treatment and noting that the most probative medical opinion concluded it is less likely than not related to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 9, 2003 for the grant of service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD). The Veteran is now entitled to a 10 percent disability rating from that date. From May 21, 2004 until August 22, 2004, he was granted a staged 100 percent disability rating due to myocardial infarction. For the period from April 9, 2003 until October 21, 2014, his IHD is rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was set at April 14, 2011.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted as a presumptive disability associated with herbicide exposure. The examiner should be asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran’s peripheral vascular disease is also related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, diabetes mellitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his in-service murmur and his current heart disorders. The preponderance of medical opinions concluded that the current conditions are more likely related to age and other non-service-related factors.

The Veteran's heart disability, including cardiomyopathy, is related to a viral infection sustained during active service and has been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, including private treatment records from various hospitals and SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's claims include service connection for heart disorders, stroke residuals, bilateral lower extremity disorders, and other conditions.

The Board denied the request to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for cause of death due to lack of material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in permanent loss of use of one or both feet, so he is denied an automobile allowance or adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding his claimed conditions. The issues include tinnitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the left arm, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, low back pain, hearing loss in both ears, carpal tunnel syndrome and radiculopathy, vision problems, and headaches.

The Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the cause of his atrial fibrillation/arrhythmia, which he claims was caused by service-connected heart disease, diabetes mellitus, or sleep apnea. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the pulmonary fibrosis claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease was denied, and the Board has decided to remand the case for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease and asbestosis has been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's contention that his conditions were related to his military service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent from October 8, 2013. The rating period for depressive disorder and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and anxiety disorder with panic attacks and depression) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disability and diabetes mellitus, both presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The claims are remanded for further examination regarding left shoulder, back, cervical spine, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical strain, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 and related conditions, along with his coronary artery disease, qualify him for special monthly compensation based on being housebound.