Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease did not manifest during service and is not related to service. The claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease as due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange), is denied.

The Veteran's heart condition, including coronary artery disease, is at least as likely as not caused by his alcohol consumption during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, hypertension, and kidney disease on a secondary basis to his service-connected sarcoidosis. Service connection for arthritis of the hands was not established.

The Veteran's heart disability is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The low back disability claim for CUE has been denied as the error did not change the outcome.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, stomach ulcers, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart disorder due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, coronary artery disease, cervical disorder, and other conditions are all granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The Veteran also has a current diagnosis of erectile dysfunction and radiculopathy that is secondary to his service-connected DM.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by a period of active service or active duty for training, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a heart disability, lumbar spine disability, or bilateral hip disability during the pendency of this appeal. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was not manifested by a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation on electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or x-ray. Since January 13, 2015, the Veteran's coronary artery disease was manifested by chronic congestive heart failure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to potential herbicide agent exposure in Korea. The VA will verify this exposure before deciding the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, migraine headaches, and an increase in evaluation of PTSD with major depressive disorder were denied. The claim for compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was not addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease. The Veteran's claims for other conditions are being remanded to obtain an opinion on whether they are related to the service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for coronary artery disease from 30 percent to 10 percent, effective February 1, 2012, was proper based on the medical evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The claims for back and right leg disabilities are pending due to the need for additional examination and opinion. The Veteran's hypertension and heart disability are also denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease are presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted as his coronary artery disease and Type II diabetes mellitus are due to herbicide exposure during service, specifically in or near the Korean DMZ.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding his claimed peripheral artery disease, bilateral carotid artery disease, and coronary artery disease.

The Board is remanding the case to develop evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Thailand, which could potentially grant service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service, while prostate cancer and coronary artery disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service.