Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, residuals of a stroke, skin disorder, bladder cancer, and back disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides in the Vietnam era.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings in several conditions, including type II diabetes mellitus, atherosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, and a surgical scar of the sternum. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease, finding no credible evidence of herbicide exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was reopened but not granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary heart disease improved to a level warranting a reduction from 100% to 60%, effective January 1, 2010. The evidence shows an improvement in METs levels and left ventricular ejection fractions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment prior to September 26, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 16, 2008.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied prior to May 17, 2010. Beginning on April 23, 2010, the Veteran is now assigned a 100% evaluation for CAD.,The Veteran's hypertension has been evaluated at 10%. The Board found that his hypertension did not meet criteria for higher evaluations based on readings being predominantly 110 or more for diastolic pressure or predominantly 200 or more for systolic pressure.

The Veteran's appendectomy and oomphaticectomy residuals are not service-connected, as the current scars do not meet criteria for a compensable rating. The lung disorder to include bronchial asthma and COPD is not service-connected due to lack of evidence during service or within one year post-service. The back disorder is also not service-connected as arthritis was not manifest in service. The ventral hernia, GERD, and heart condition are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during his service, and therefore cannot establish service connection for coronary artery disease or diabetes mellitus, type II on a presumptive basis. The skin condition claim is also denied as there was no evidence of record supporting direct service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease was less likely than not caused by exposure to herbicide agents in service or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The Board also determined that the Veteran's sole service-connected disability, PTSD, did not render him unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, skin cancer, kidney problems and ischemic heart disease due to exposure to herbicides. The evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure in Vietnam or elsewhere.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities; coronary artery disease (CAD); vitiligo; thoracolumbar spine condition; right knee condition; left knee condition; right hip condition; and bilateral hand condition. The Board found no evidence to support a direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's heart disability was not incurred during service or within one year of discharge from active duty, and the post-service diagnosis is not related to presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including MDD, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of March 5, 2001. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is now set at May 13, 2004.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of joint disease, parasympathetic autonomic dysfunction, fibromyalgia, IBS, heart condition, or respiratory condition. The evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's CAD, while at times manifested by chest pain, has not been manifested by congestive heart failure, a work load of 3 METs or less, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent. Therefore, the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent for CAD are not met.

The Veteran's heart disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran does not have a current heart disability.,The Veteran has tinea pedis that affects less than 5 percent of a non-exposed area, but does not require intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs.