Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, cardiac arrest due to blood clot, was not caused by a service-connected disability or any incident therein. The medical evidence does not support a connection between his fatal condition and his service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the Appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease was granted a 60 percent rating from April 15, 2005 to January 10, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and diabetic nephropathy. The issue of TDIU prior to June 17, 2010 is also addressed.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent, and he is granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disorder did not have its onset in service or within one year of separation, and is otherwise not related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied as the earliest possible effective date has already been assigned by VA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease has been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability, and thus cannot grant service connection on this basis. However, hypertension was noted as present.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are presumed to have been incurred in service due to his exposure to herbicides during his time stationed near air base perimeters in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI residuals has been reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no current diagnosis of a TBI or TBI residuals.,Service connection was not granted for a heart disorder and gastrointestinal disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ was denied as the fallopian tube is not service-connected.,The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 were denied because there was no additional disability caused by VA care, and the Veteran did not provide informed consent to the treatment that led to her conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of hysterectomy including scars secondary to ovarian cysts is pending as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which is a covered herbicide disease. The appellant filed for DIC benefits after the effective date of the liberalizing law that added ischemic heart disease to the list of presumptive diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure. As her claim was received within one year of the Veteran's death and she did not file an application to reopen her claim prior to 2010, the earliest possible effective date is October 11, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his active duty service and his current condition. The issue of ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Thailand. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he was exposed, and service connection for his condition is granted.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was rated at 10 percent prior to January 13, 2017 and denied a higher rating. Since January 13, 2017, the Veteran is rated at 30 percent for his condition.

The Veteran's heart disability, including ischemic heart disease, is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure during service. The claim will be remanded for further development and a medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, to include coronary artery disease, secondary to PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his current diagnoses and their relationship to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, was not incurred in or related to his active service.