Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for coronary artery disease and PTSD are dismissed as a matter of law. The Board finds that these matters must be dismissed because the Veteran did not timely perfect an appeal of the original rating decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure are being remanded as additional information is needed from the Department of Defense regarding his claimed exposures.

The Board has restored the Veteran's CAD rating from 100% to 30%, effective October 1, 2014.,The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 70% for PTSD since October 29, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum VA opinion addressing the impact of his service-connected PTSD on his employability.

The Veteran's migraines and heart disorder are presumed to be related to his military service, with the Board finding that reasonable doubt exists in both cases.,The Veteran's sleep disturbance, muscle/joint pain, stomach/constipation disorder, memory loss, and fatigue are also presumed to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, to include as secondary to PTSD, and DIC based on the cause of death being related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gynecological disorder, heart disorder, and hypertension. The Veteran was also denied initial compensable ratings for her sinusitis and right heel spur.,There is no evidence of a current disability for a heart disorder or hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease with angina, finding it presumptively related to herbicide exposure. Service connection was denied for the implanted cardiac pacemaker due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The issues of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, but finds that the evidence does not support a finding that any in-service exposure caused or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from Dr. S.L. or another provider regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, based on exposure to herbicide agents during active military service in Thailand. The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss is not considered aggravated by his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service and granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and ischemic heart disease based on this exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cardiomyopathy is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a TDIU from February 2011, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment at that time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II, finding that no evidence prior to September 16, 2013, could be construed as a claim. The one-year retroactive effective date assigned by VA is considered the earliest possible.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for a thorough medical opinion regarding the nature and cause of the Veteran's heart disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder and an acquired psychiatric disability, as well as his requests for increased ratings for chronic kidney disease and coronary artery disease. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's August 1995 application for SSA death benefits constitutes a joint claim with VA, and thus an effective date of July 1, 1995 is granted for the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 17, 2010 for the grant of service connection for non-obstructive coronary artery disease is denied. The earliest date on which it is factually ascertainable that the Veteran had coronary artery disease was November 17, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for non-obstructive coronary artery disease is denied. There is no evidence indicating the Veteran meets criteria for a higher rating.