Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to consider a new theory of secondary service connection. The Veteran's heart disability is being evaluated on its own merits, but also potentially due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II.

The Board has restored service connection for diabetes mellitus, residuals of prostate cancer, and coronary artery disease due to presumed exposure to herbicides while serving in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and insomnia disorder have all been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for rheumatic heart disease reasonably reflects an intent to file for compensation for ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease. The case is being remanded due to a lack of etiological opinion and the need to obtain VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and insufficient opinions regarding service connection claims. The Veteran's vertigo, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and psychiatric disabilities are among the issues being addressed.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and diabetes mellitus, type II as there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary regarding the claims on appeal, including obtaining an addendum opinion for the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions and asthma. The heart condition claim will also be remanded due to its connection to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from July 2012 due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and ischemic heart disease, preventing him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial application for service connection for coronary artery disease was received by VA on April 13, 2000. The RO granted service connection for coronary artery disease effective April 13, 2000. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for his service connection claim.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to October 26, 1993, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction due to herbicide exposure is not warranted.

The Veteran's death was due to ischemic cardiomyopathy, which had already been service-connected prior to his death. The retroactive benefits claim is denied as no additional benefits are payable based on the litigation in Nehmer v. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The appeals for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were dismissed due to withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 1, 1995 for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The independent medical opinion concluded that ECT treatment for PTSD did not cause the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's need for the regular aid and attendance of another person was due to his service-connected coronary artery disease, which warranted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance from November 28, 2006 until his death in January 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disorder or heart disorder related to service, and his bilateral hearing loss is not shown to be present. As such, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran was not found to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities prior to March 8, 2016.