Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD, diabetes, and hypertensive heart disease have been rated based on their individual service-connected conditions. The appeal for a TDIU has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and therefore cannot be presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents. The evidence does not support a finding of actual exposure either. Service connection is denied as there is no direct link between service, including any claimed herbicide exposure, and the current diagnoses.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him helpless or so nearly helpless that he requires the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 19, 2011, for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease with stable angina. The effective date was assigned based on VA receiving his initial claim in January 25, 1990 and the earliest documented ischemic heart condition being September 19, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, Type II are being remanded due to the need to clarify his area of operation during service in Korea. The Board will determine if he was exposed to herbicide agents or other potential causative factors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for a current VA examination and possible METs exercise test.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip disabilities, thyroid disorder, cardiac disability (claimed as ischemic heart disease), and cysts on the kidneys due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a confirmed heart condition, and thus service connection for chest pain, claimed as a heart condition, is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, with a 70 percent rating for anxiety disorder.,The Veteran's increased rating for anxiety disorder claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence that a formal or informal claim was filed prior to July 22, 1988. The earliest filed claim was in July 1988 and the disability arose in May 1985.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a heart condition, finding that new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 50 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) and diabetes mellitus type II are not service connected as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for heart disability, right knee disability, and right plantar and calcaneal spurs. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure leading to current tinnitus, but no direct or presumptive link between his current heart disability and Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his active military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and ischemic heart disease were not shown to be related to service, with the exception of a possible link between his hearing loss and tinnitus. The tuberculosis claim is pending as additional evidence is needed.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied because there was no evidence linking it to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran has current diagnoses of diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, including arteriosclerotic heart disease. The claims are granted as new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied service connection claims.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma (claimed as skin cancer) is found to be related to service and granted. The heart condition claim is denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. The Veteran's benign prostate hypertrophy (claimed as prostate condition) is not presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure, but the Board finds it more likely than not that it is related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection.