Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for malignant melanoma, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a higher rating for coronary artery disease. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, urinary disorder, and back disorder were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or event, continuous service, or a nexus to service.,Service connection could not be established due to lack of exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's death was caused by bacterial meningitis, which the VA finds likely due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and dismisses the claim for death pension as a greater benefit has been awarded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 17, 2012 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the first communication from the Veteran to VA evidencing intent to file a claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was received on May 17, 2012.

The Veteran is granted an increased initial disability rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease from August 19, 1992 to November 21, 1997.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues related to effective dates.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for service connection for ischemia heart disease as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus (DM2). The VA cardiologist provided an opinion that there was more than a 50 percent probability that the Veteran had some form of CAD, considering his DM2.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to newly obtained VA treatment records and a VA examination report. The claims include service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, erectile dysfunction, an acquired psychiatric condition (major depressive disorder), varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, with residual surgical scars, is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations related to his bilateral foot disability, heart disability, and TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hand condition, bilateral knee condition, and heart condition due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for heart condition, porphyria cutanea tarda, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).

The Board has remanded the case for an additional medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected ischemic heart disease or due to exposure to Agent Orange during military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, upper respiratory condition (including sinusitis), pulmonary condition (including emphysema, COPD, and chronic airway obstruction not elsewhere classified), sleep apnea, heart condition, and gastrointestinal condition have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, human papilloma virus (HPV), a skin disorder to include skin cancer and penile cancer, a heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete records and procedural issues.

The Board has granted a higher rating for ischemic heart disease and remanded the issue of initial ratings for diabetes mellitus type 2. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is also being remanded due to lack of recent medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.,Claims for bilateral shoulder condition and heart condition were not reopened as the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's right knee and coronary artery disease are granted service connection, but the left knee disability is remanded for further examination. The effective date of service connection remains October 19, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and temporary total disability evaluation are being remanded due to the failure to attend a VA examination in May 2016. The issues will be reconsidered after an additional examination is conducted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic contact dermatitis, heart disability, rash (psoriasis), and diabetes mellitus type 2. The decision found no current disabilities related to these conditions, and the evidence did not establish a link between any of them and service.