Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a disability due to an alleged delay in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The case has been remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and is considering whether new evidence supports reopening of the claim for coronary artery disease. The Veteran contends he was exposed to herbicides while serving aboard the USS Hitchiti, which participated in salvage missions that took it into inland waterways of Vietnam.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the June 2011 rating decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed conditions, finding that there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's depression and coronary artery disease were aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of records and a need for further action by the RO.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was not incurred in service and is not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim as there is no evidence of service in Vietnam or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, GERD, heart disability, elbow disabilities, sinusitis, nasal allergies, hemorrhoids, and gum disease are all granted.

The Veteran's CAD is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board finds that service connection for CAD is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and will consider additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service event, injury or disease causing the condition.,For ischemic heart disease from May 14, 2010 to May 3, 2015, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent due to his ability to perform a workload greater than 7 METs without experiencing symptoms and no evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of GERD/acid reflux, low back strain, and insomnia have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims. The appeal for a lung condition remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a heart disability claim due to presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart condition and aggravation of hypertension were denied as there is no additional disability shown, and the preponderance of evidence indicates that the Veteran does not experience any additional disability of the heart due to VA treatment.,The claim was also denied because the Veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by her VA treatment.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his satisfaction with the decision granting service connection for a psychiatric disorder and assigning a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's status post fractured right toe and right metatarsal strain, as well as his ischemic heart disease, were not found to be related to service. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is granted a 40 percent disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer from September 1, 2011. The appeal for higher ratings and TDIU are denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease was granted at 30 percent from August 31, 2010 to January 7, 2015. From January 7, 2015 to January 26, 2017, the Veteran's CAD warrants a higher than 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his heart disorder was granted, with a 60% rating effective July 17, 1995. The rating has remained at this level until the most recent decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and the retrieval of VA treatment records.