Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease is granted from July 1, 2016. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including posttraumatic stress disorder) remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his service, including exposure to contaminants at Anderson Air Force Base (AAFB).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disorder, left ankle disorder, and right upper extremity skin disorder are not service connected. The VA examiners have provided opinions indicating these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD did not render him unemployable prior to November 20, 2015. The Board found that the evidence does not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's heart condition, including coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease, is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after his separation from military service. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic diarrhea, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury. Service connection was denied for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and thrombocytosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine whether the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and if so, whether he is substantially confined to his dwelling and immediate premises.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction was denied. The claim for TDIU before August 1, 2008, was also denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was manifested by a workload of 3 Metabolic Equivalents of Task causing symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope between August 10, 2005 and August 6, 2012. The Board granted a 100% evaluation for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and adjudicating the issue of TDIU prior to May 20, 2009.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case will be returned to the AOJ after completion of this development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU, and he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his physical and psychological limitations.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, claimed as a heart condition, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for migraine headaches, as there is sufficient evidence of a current disability and in-service onset. However, the heart disorder (claimed as coronary artery disease) cannot be linked to service due to lack of continuity of symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran's cardiomyopathy was not incurred during service and is not secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea. The most likely cause of the Veteran's heart disorder was in-service alcohol abuse.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected as COPD and heart disease were not shown to be related to his military service. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service, thus denying both claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and heart disease as they were not incurred or aggravated in line of duty during the appellant's periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board found that service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus is not warranted as the evidence does not establish a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a memory disability, and his cranial neuralgia and migraine headaches are not incurred in or related to service. The left shoulder, bilateral elbow, right knee, and chest pain disabilities were also not found to be incurred in or related to service. The skin disability was not found to be incurred in or related to service.