Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including a psychiatric disorder, have been granted.

The Veteran claims service connection for CAD and TIA due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds the ship was not identified as operating in Vietnam's inland waterways.,The Veteran claims service connection for DM II, CAD, and TIA due to herbicide exposure. VA will need to determine if the ship operated offshore or on an inland waterway in Vietnam.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for IHD from 60% to 10% was proper. The Veteran's appeal regarding increased ratings for IHD prior to September 23, 2013 and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board finds that service connection can be granted for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, which precluded presumptive service connection. For heart disease, the claim was denied as there was no in-service onset or continuity of symptoms after discharge. For bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, the Board noted that while the Veteran reported noise exposure, there is insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his sleep apnea, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current heart disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the increased rating for coronary artery disease, status post bypass graft with scar prior to February 25, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or any other overseas location where he could have been exposed to herbicides. Therefore, his claims for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability, a right knee disability, a left knee disability, a lumbar spine disability, a right hip disability, a left hip disability, a disability manifested by right leg pain and swelling, a disability manifested by left leg pain and swelling, and chronic kidney disease cannot be granted on the basis of presumptive exposure to herbicides. The Board also found no direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including end-stage renal failure and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, do not render him unemployable as he is actively pursuing a university degree.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) as ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for a more definitive medical opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease or any other heart condition that was incurred during or within one year of his active duty service, or caused or aggravated by his active duty service, or caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service, including exposure to herbicides. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 60 percent since January 25, 2013. His PTSD remains rated at 30 percent. Both conditions are determined to be service-connected on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU at least since January 1, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was granted, with the highest possible schedular rating of 100 percent.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status was also granted.

The Veteran's appeals regarding hypertension, migraine headaches, heart disability, and low back condition were dismissed as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including cataracts, enlarged lymph nodes along the trachea, heart disorder, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral vascular disease, and residuals of thyroid cancer. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or any related exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and considering the issue of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected coronary artery disease.