Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating under DC 7005, due to its impact on his ability to perform activities of daily living and yard work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, hypertension, and stroke residuals are not related to his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, heart disorder, and hypertension due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease, bilateral pes planus, bilateral corns and calluses, and bilateral hallux valgus. The evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the exact locations of the USS Hassayampa during the times noted above and whether it ever entered any inland waterway of Vietnam. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be readjudicated after this determination.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease. The case is remanded for additional development regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder was not incurred during active duty service or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to active duty service.

The Veteran's brain lesion, heart disability (mitral valve prolapse and atrial fibrillation), skin rash, and skin cancer were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety disorder. Service connection for a heart disability is denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment since December 26, 2012.,While the Veteran's symptoms from his service-connected disabilities limit his ability to work, they are adequately contemplated by the relevant rating schedule for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease from December 6, 2004 to January 4, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with effective dates of April 17, 2012. The Board has also determined that the earliest date of entitlement for CAD is January 1, 2006.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of soft-tissue sarcoma or coronary artery disease, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for coronary artery disease, and therefore there is no further question before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted, and his claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease as a result of herbicide agent exposure is also granted.,The Board finds that the evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, to include as secondary to hypertension, was withdrawn. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for the aggravation of his pre-existing bilateral pes planus during a period of active duty.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this purpose.

For the period prior to June 7, 2012, the Veteran's heart disability was rated at 60 percent.,From October 1, 2012 to January 21, 2015, the Veteran's heart disability remained rated at 60 percent.,Since May 1, 2015, the Veteran's heart disability has been rated at 60 percent.,PTSD was initially rated at 30 percent and increased to 50 percent effective March 19, 2015.