Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 and Ischemic Heart Disease due to insufficient information regarding his exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran is not entitled to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for ischemic heart disease prior to March 10, 2014. He is entitled to a 100 percent rating for his service-connected ischemic heart disease beginning March 10, 2014.,The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for ischemic heart disease was denied as he did not file a formal or informal claim prior to August 31, 2010. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to a temporary total rating for convalescence after hospital admission.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, which was previously rated as 60 percent disabling from April 14, 2005 to August 30, 2007 and 100 percent disabling since August 12, 2011, is now rated at 100 percent effective August 12, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Parkinson's disease and ischemic heart disease, both of which are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam Era.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with hypertensive heart disease, including whether it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of coronary artery disease and B-cell lymphoma, finding that the earliest date a claim was received by VA was November 10, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and prostate cancer are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension, heart condition (cardiomyopathy), and low back disability are all granted. The reduction of the low back disability rating from 40% to 10% is also granted. An initial increased rating for the low back disability is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) during the relevant appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that the September 2008 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss is final, and no new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart disorder was dismissed as the claim has been fully granted with an effective date of April 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease, with or without service-connected dilated cardiomyopathy, and his TDIU claim are both remanded. The issue of severance of service connection for dilated cardiomyopathy is also pending.

The Veteran's skin condition, specifically tinea versicolor, is rated at 60 percent. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that his skin disability affects more than 40 percent of his body. Other issues related to heart conditions and hypertension are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and a heart disorder other than IHD (to include congestive heart failure) as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or due to herbicide exposure. The claim for ischemic heart disease was not granted, while the claim for a heart disorder other than IHD remains pending.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's rheumatic fever.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and the Veteran's heart condition is not linked to his active service. The cause of death due to metastatic melanoma was determined to be a direct result of the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating prior to September 18, 2015. The Board also found that he was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities as of September 18, 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his active service. The claim for ischemic heart disease (IHD) is remanded due to lack of a definitive diagnosis.