Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's variously diagnosed heart disability, specifically ischemic heart disease, is presumed to be linked to his herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam. The DIC benefits were improperly severed due to the failure to establish clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his coronary artery disease was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating, as he did not have congestive heart failure and his left ventricular ejection fraction has never been less than 55 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence submitted in response to a VHA expert's opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a shoulder disability.

The Veteran's application for waiver of premiums for RH insurance was denied because his total disability did not begin after the date of his application or while the insurance was in force under premium-paying conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate and whether there are any new or material pieces of evidence for his service connection claims. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has found that the Veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease is related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, including pneumonia and bronchial asthma with left lung granuloma, remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and gout. The Veteran's exposure to chemicals during service is substantiated, but the Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as there is no direct evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to July 24, 2017, is currently evaluated at a 60 percent disability rating. The Board finds the evidence does not support an increase in this evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his service, including as secondary to a lung disability. The preponderance of evidence did not support the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease, as due to in-service herbicide exposure (Agent Orange). The evidence did not support a finding of direct or presumptive service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a heart disorder due to his service or service-connected PTSD, and denied both claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected depressive disorder, coronary artery disease, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including GI disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, panic disorder, and coronary artery disease. The decision found that these disabilities were not related to service.

The Veteran's CAD was granted a disability rating of 60 percent, effective April 15, 2016.,PTSD and diabetes mellitus type II with diabetic retinopathy were denied increased ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension have been granted service connection. The claims for a compensable evaluation for condyloma acuminate, service connection for dermatophytosis, and service connection for heart disability are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's heart condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating beyond what has been assigned.,The Veteran's diabetes requires insulin, restricted diet but not regulation of activities and does not warrant an increased rating.,The Veteran's scar is linear and neither painful nor unstable and does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was granted on the basis of presumed exposure to herbicide agents, effective August 31, 2010. The effective date assigned is November 21, 2011, which is one year prior to the date of receipt of his claim (November 21, 2012). The Veteran's claim was received more than one year after the effective date as of which ischemic heart disease was added to the list of diseases presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. Therefore, an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board found no evidence of Agent Orange exposure and denied service connection for the Veteran's heart condition, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy.