Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee osteoarthritis, PTSD, CAD, right ankle osteoarthritis, and shrapnel wound scars, are rated at a combined 90 percent. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to their severity and nature.

An effective date of October 15, 2015 for the grant of service connection for a right foot disorder is granted.,An effective date prior to October 15, 2015 for the grant of service connection for a left foot disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, scars on the left hand, allergic rhinitis, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, heart condition, and GERD have been denied. The VA has ordered additional examinations to address these issues.,The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed conditions as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and active service.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability and remanded the issues of service connection for left hip, right hip, and bilateral pes planus disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his current severity of coronary artery disease, including its impact on his employment and METs readings.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was a principal or contributory cause of his death, and whether severe peripheral neuropathy contributed to death. The appellant must provide additional private treatment records or allow VA to obtain such records on her behalf.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes, bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and a right eye disability are all granted. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

Your appeal for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease has been dismissed because you withdrew your request before the decision was made.

The Board denied service connection and all rating claims, including TDIU, for the claimed conditions. The Veteran's diabetes is not related to his military service. His acquired mental disorder, left knee disorder, heart disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right middle finger disorder are also not related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for coronary artery disease prior to December 15, 2015 was denied.,The Veteran's increased rating for coronary artery disease since December 15, 2015 was also denied.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for ischemic heart disease as of October 1, 2012. The effective date is November 20, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities left him in need of regular aid and attendance from October 31, 2013 to September 9, 2016. The Board found that the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance were met during this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and diabetes mellitus were reopened due to new and material evidence, and both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was granted. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also granted as service-connected, while sleep apnea, valvular heart disease (claimed as ischemic heart disease), and hypertension were denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is established based on noise exposure during combat in Vietnam. Service connection for valvular heart disease was not established due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or caused by service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and tension headaches have been granted. The Veteran's claim for a heart disorder has been denied. Other issues related to his service-connected conditions or disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity are both rated at 20 percent, which do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The same applies to his right lower extremity.,Prior to October 9, 2012, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 was rated at 20 percent and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder is rated at 70 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and leukemia, including myelodysplastic syndrome and myeloproliferative disorder. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis B and C, low back disability, sleep apnea, and hematuria have been granted. The heart disability claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his underlying claims for hypertension, eye disability, chronic fatigue, COPD (shortness of breath), nerve damage, heart disability, unspecified joint pain, and skin disability are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a skin disorder due to circumcision is dismissed. The claim for PTSD is denied. The appeal for respiratory disorder (asbestos exposure) is denied. The appeal for sleep disorder is denied. The appeal for headaches is denied. An initial rating of 20 percent for left ankle degenerative joint disease is granted. Appeals for coronary artery disease, hypertension, corns of the bilateral feet, and hemorrhoids are all denied.