Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since May 20, 2013. The Board has referred the issue of TDIU prior to May 20, 2013 for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as incomplete information regarding asbestos exposure. Additional opinions are needed on whether his right ear hearing loss disability is related to service, if CAD was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected varicose veins, and if his stroke and skin cancer are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, all of which the Veteran claimed were due to in-service herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during his active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) and evaluation in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD). The ED case requires a VA medical opinion on whether it is caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The CAD case requires an updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected PTSD was a principal or contributory cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to ischemic heart disease, finding that it was not caused by or related to any condition during service and no service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's bilateral recurrent tinnitus is granted service connection. The appeals for CAD, hypertensive vascular disease, and diabetes are dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran. Service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted with a rating of 30 percent prior to July 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a respiratory condition and TDIU based on service connected disabilities were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory condition, but his heart disability prevents him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is reopened and remanded due to the need for an examination. The claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and psychiatric disorders are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the reopening of the lumbar spine claim.

Service connection is denied for sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and mental disorder (claimed as a psychiatric condition). The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent since May 23, 2017.,The claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of increased ratings for ventricular arrhythmia and valvular heart disease, lumbar strain and thoracic degenerative disc disease (DDD), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine their current levels of severity.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of increased ratings for ventricular arrhythmia and valvular heart disease, lumbar strain and thoracic degenerative disc disease (DDD), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine their current levels of severity.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development and examination regarding service connection claims, including those related to heart disability, psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), left inguinal hernia, post aortofemoral bypass residuals, right inguinal hernia, and TDIU. The Veteran's lay statements about exposure to chemicals during National Guard service are also being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was reopened and granted. Service connection for headaches, tinnitus, and high blood pressure/hypertension were also granted. The claims for sleep apnea and heart disorder were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disability, including valvular heart disease with status post mitral valve replacement, as claimed as ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence did not support a finding of current IHD or valvular heart disease.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder was granted. The initial disability rating for ischemic heart disease remains at 30 percent, but a separate 10 percent rating is granted for atrial fibrillation associated with it.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted effective prior to March 25, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease has been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and it was not related to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes, a heart disorder, prostate cancer, hypertension, hypothyroidism (claimed as obesity), and cataracts due to lack of in-service herbicide agent exposure and failure to establish a nexus between the conditions and service.