Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his service-connected anxiety disorder and his heart condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's heart disability was rated at 60 percent effective February 26, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression as secondary to coronary artery disease (CAD), a rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD, and a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD due to incomplete information from VA treatment records. The Veteran's mental health condition is unclear, and an addendum opinion is needed to determine if he has a separate diagnosis of depression or if it is part of his PTSD.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease status post myocardial infarction with angina needs to be reassessed due to possible worsening since his last VA examination. The case is being remanded for a new evaluation.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease status post myocardial infarction with angina needs to be reassessed due to possible worsening since his last VA examination. The case is being remanded for a new evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart fibrillation, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease due to incomplete records and need for additional development.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is found to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, particularly regarding his service-connected coronary artery disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's CAD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity are also rated at 40 percent. A TDIU rating was granted but not for a specific effective date.

The Board denied the claim for an increased disability rating for coronary artery disease and dismissed the earlier effective date claim for DIC benefits. The Veteran's death was caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is considered a covered herbicide agent disease under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a heart disorder, and otitis media. This includes obtaining post-service medical records, scheduling examinations by appropriate specialists, and determining if there is any relationship between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board has determined that he is not entitled to a higher rating. The Veteran also claimed entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 26, 2015, which was granted.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to February 14, 2017 is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence that has not been reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease did not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture with related factors such as marked interference with employment or necessitated frequent periods of hospitalization, so the regular schedular standards are adequate and a higher rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claims for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were granted secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2 with erectile dysfunction. The effective date for these grants is August 12, 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand and insufficient medical evidence linking the current heart disability to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's heart disease and its relationship to herbicide exposure in service.