Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's heart disability is denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The compensable rating for his right hand tendon repair is remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence and additional medical records need to be obtained. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease and left testicular atrophy is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and the cause of death due to heart disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and increased evaluation for ischemic heart disease have been reopened. The claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease has been granted to a 30 percent level.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation of his Ischemic Heart Disease claim and a new rating for PTSD. The service connection theory is based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded all of the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral knees, shoulders, gout, dizziness (vertigo), sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, hepatitis B, and residuals of a shrapnel wound. The AOJ is instructed to make appropriate requests to the SSA for records concerning the Veteran and to obtain clinical records from his in-service hospitalization.

The Board has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition, neurogenic bladder, and sexual dysfunction due to service-connected somatic symptom disorder. The issues are being addressed as secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for asbestosis, bronchitis, reactive airway disease, and coronary artery disease were denied. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and COPD, rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his severe mental incapacity and physical limitations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of low back disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, and right ankle disability are remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluation for coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, was denied prior to August 3, 2010. As of August 3, 2010, and no earlier, an evaluation of 30 percent is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) has been withdrawn by his attorney. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for a rash on both hands, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The heart condition claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the left hip is dismissed. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is granted prior to June 20, 2014, and from December 9, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded to consider new evidence since the last supplemental statement of the case was issued in August 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has returned to work and is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.