Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and prostate cancer on the basis that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension or hypertensive heart disease, or bilateral knee disability during service. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected osteochondroma excision residuals contributed substantially or materially to his death from cardiopulmonary arrest, with complications of septicemia.

The Veteran's heart disease, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), is not service-connected as it was not diagnosed during or within one year after military service.,Diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been established for evaluation purposes.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied. The evidence does not show that the Veteran's CAD meets or approximates the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and the Board finds that service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's heart condition is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the condition is related to his service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in service, which triggers a presumption of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and Parkinson's disease. As the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions, all manifest to a compensable degree, service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's heart disability was caused or aggravated by his military service, and whether a pre-existing condition existed prior to service.

The Veteran's initial 10% rating for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability, hypertension, and coronary artery disease due to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as his freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for heart disease has no legal merit. The Board also denied a higher disability rating for his service-connected heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed heart condition, including ischemic heart disease. Therefore, service connection for a cardiovascular disability due to herbicide exposure is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease did not have its clinical onset during or as a result of service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension was not service-connected due to lack of onset in service, within one year of separation, or otherwise related to a service-connected disability. For the period prior to December 17, 2013, his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and ischemic heart disease due to inadequate VA examinations, incomplete medical records, and a need for further examination. The case is now pending with the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 21, 2012, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. The issues of service connection for hypertension and a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease are pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD with major depression, and the Board finds service connection for hypertension is warranted.