Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's IHD and diabetes mellitus, type II are found to be at least as likely as not related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer and coronary artery disease, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran is granted service connection for left hip DJD, status post left hip replacement.,Service connection is also granted for degenerative disc disease (DDD).,Left leg radiculopathy secondary to degenerative disc disease has been established as well.,Heart condition due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam is now service connected.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both found to be related to service, with tinnitus being noted since service.,Hypertension, also linked to service exposure, has been granted service connection.,No specific rating or effective date was provided.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to be related to his service-connected hypertension and/or herbicide exposure, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and anxiety disability have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for major depressive disorder, memory loss, heart disability, and sleep disorder has also been denied.,There is no service connection granted for any condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA heart examination and addressing the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease since May 2000.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was not manifested by chronic congestive heart failure or an LVEF of less than 30 percent prior to July 9, 2015. The Board found that a 100% rating for ischemic heart disease is not warranted at any point prior to July 9, 2015.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred as a result of service, and his heart disorder is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the evidence supports these presumptions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his COPD, asthma, hypertension, heart condition, and bilateral lower extremity edema.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's high blood pressure is not currently diagnosed.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for a heart disability was denied. He also sought SMC based on the need for aid and attendance and/or at the housebound rate, which was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraines, heart disability, arthritis, and respiratory disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no left ear hearing loss disability and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran did not serve in a unit determined to have operated in the Korean DMZ between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971. The evidence failed to show herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and new evidence needs to be obtained. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease has been rated at 30 percent since April 4, 2014. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied. The right leg disability was granted a higher rating, but the claim remains pending. Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and heart disorder (ischemic heart disease) were not established as related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as the result of his service-connected heart condition and diabetes.