Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination for ischemic heart disease, and the need to determine if he is currently incarcerated.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for sleep apnea. However, the Veteran's heart disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The preponderance of evidence is against his claim.,During the February 2017 hearing, the Veteran withdrew his appeal concerning the issues of his entitlement to a left shoulder disability and bilateral otitis media and otitis externa.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current knee, lung, heart, and neuropathy disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the knees, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was denied. The current effective date is not provided.,For the period prior to June 24, 2003, the Veteran received a 10 percent disability rating for his coronary artery disease. No higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence of workload greater than 5 METs or cardiac hypertrophy/dilation on EKG, echocardiogram, or X-ray.,For the period from November 1, 2003 to January 23, 2006, the Veteran received a 60 percent disability rating for his coronary artery disease. No higher rating is warranted as there is no evidence of chronic congestive heart failure, workload less than 3 METs, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction less than 30 percent.,For the period prior to July 12, 2011, the Veteran received a noncompensable disability rating for his painful scars. No higher rating is warranted as none of the scars were unstable or painful.,From July 12, 2011, the Veteran received a compensable disability rating (20 percent) for his painful scars. The current effective date is not provided.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease with old myocardial infarction is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are not related to exposure to chemicals during service, including herbicides. The claims were denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's CAD was not found to warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, as it did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on specific functional limitations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his condition to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is attributable to in-service herbicide exposure, and his heart disability other than coronary artery disease was not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a determination on the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting further examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to or a result of his service-connected lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder, but denied service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye conditions and heart condition are not related to his military service, including any in-service conjunctivitis. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung and heart disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial increased rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft with scar residuals, is currently rated at 10 percent. His left pyelonephritis with scar residual has no current residuals and was previously service-connected. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7017 or DC 7509.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected coronary artery disease was denied as he did not file a formal or informal claim prior to November 1, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for viremia, diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension. The evidence did not establish herbicide exposure or in-service diagnosis of these conditions.