Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claim for a facial chemical burn is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition.,Service connection for fatty liver is also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to in-service treatment with Nizoral.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 2, 2012, for service-connected coronary artery disease is denied. The Board finds that the criteria for establishing such an effective date have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus, preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for hypertension, as the issue was not previously addressed. The Board will also determine if service connection can be established for hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure and/or its relationship to his other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 60 percent evaluation for ischemic heart disease (IHD) was denied. The appeals for evaluations greater than 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy (PN) of the left and right lower extremities associated with diabetes mellitus type II (DM) were also denied, as well as an increased combined evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disability, diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition and hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides during service and there was no evidence of such conditions within one year after separation. The claims were decided on the merits.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction as the evidence did not establish exposure to herbicide agents or a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's PTSD, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus were all granted service connection. However, the Veteran was denied increased ratings for his PTSD, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus. The aortic aneurysm, hearing loss, tinnitus, and cataracts issues are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for an implanted cardiac pacemaker, initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for nephrolithiasis. Additionally, the TDIU claim from March 11, 2016 is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was reopened, and he is now rated at 70 percent for PTSD. His TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his aortic valve disorder. The case will be reviewed with an expert opinion on whether the service-connected condition caused or aggravated the claimed disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for gouty arthritis, heart disorder, hypertension, and residuals of a hiatal hernia due to incomplete information regarding his Air National Guard service. The AOJ is instructed to verify his periods of active duty and obtain any additional service personnel records and treatment records.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, which was initially diagnosed in February 2005 and presumed to be due to Agent Orange exposure, is now rated at 100% effective from August 31, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The heart disorder claim is related to a surgical procedure performed during active duty, while the psychiatric disorder claim requires development of stressor verification.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board finds that further development is needed to determine if his claimed disabilities are related to active service or any other relevant factors.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability related to scoliosis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active service.,For left leg neurological disability and genitourinary disability claims under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, the Board found no evidence of proximate fault on VA’s part in causing additional disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD on his employability and details about any employment he may have since retirement. The VA needs to clarify these aspects before making a final decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination and METs test, as his last VA examination was over six years ago and he reported worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection to include as due to exposure of ionizing radiation and secondary to service-connected disabilities has been granted. The issues have been remanded for further development.