Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that there is a reasonable medical nexus between the two conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound is denied. The Board found that while the Veteran requires assistance due to his service-connected PTSD, he does not require regular aid and attendance solely because of this condition. Additionally, there is no indication that he is permanently housebound due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, carotid artery disease, and hypertension due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's rating for coronary artery disease and mitral valve prolapse was reduced from 60 percent to 10 percent in December 2012. The Board found that the reduction was improper due to lack of sustained improvement and based on only one examination, so it restored a 60 percent rating effective March 1, 2013.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a heart disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran will be provided with VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his service.

The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no effective date prior to May 5, 2015 for the 100 percent evaluation of hypertensive heart disease (previously rated as coronary artery disease with hypertension) can be granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability, hypertension, sinusitis, and respiratory disability (COPD) due to herbicide agent exposure. The cases are remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of asbestos exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's ischemic heart disease was related to his service, specifically his treatment for schistosomiasis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral defective hearing, tinnitus, heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure, and a skin disorder due to Agent Orange exposure. The AOJ is instructed to obtain missing service treatment records from December 1967 to July 1969.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and cirrhosis, but the effective dates are being remanded due to conflicting evidence. The hepatitis C claim is also being remanded as it may impact SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depression with anxiety, was denied. The Veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease was granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as multi-organ system failure. The VA and private medical opinions concluded that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death, with the primary cause being metastatic colon cancer.

Service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is denied.,Effective dates earlier than May 29, 2003, are not granted for service connection of Anemia and Hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for heart disease, hypertension, hip disabilities, low back disability, left eye disability, gastrointestinal disability, and prostate disorder are all denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart condition. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his heart condition, which he claims was caused by Chagas disease during his service in Panama or due to events in service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure, sleep apnea, hypertension, and major depressive disorder have been denied.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the award of service-connected right thigh muscle injury has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ear disability (including hearing loss) has been reopened and granted. The claims for gastrointestinal, arthritis, ischemic heart disease, and PTSD have also been remanded.