Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for various conditions, with some remanded for further examination and development. The initial rating for depression disorder is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for coronary artery disease due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of the appellant's statements about her symptoms during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart conditions qualify as ischemic heart disease, which includes old myocardial infarction.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cause of death, including his service-connected bilateral upper and lower extremity cold weather injury residuals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service and that it is not otherwise related to service. The Board also found that secondary service connection based on a hiatal hernia was not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and headaches as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the medical opinions found no link between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease was reduced to 60 percent, effective June 1, 2014. The Board found that the reduction was improper and restored the original 60 percent rating.

The Board denied the Appellant's requests for earlier effective dates for DIC benefits and service connection for status post myocardial infarction with congestive heart failure. The effective date for DIC benefits was set at March 1, 2006, as it is the first day of the month in which the Veteran died. For service connection, the Board found that there is no evidence to support an earlier effective date than May 5, 1994.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has had coronary artery disease (CAD) during the period of the claim. Service connection for CAD is granted due to the Veteran's service in Vietnam, which provides a presumption of exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) status post CABG as secondary to diabetes mellitus has been reopened, but the issue of service connection remains remanded due to insufficient rationale in a previous opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, left shoulder disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and other musculoskeletal issues, has been granted. However, some claims were remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, COPD, heart disease, and a right shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions require him to need regular aid and attendance, thus he is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was granted effective March 31, 2013. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted as the claim was filed under the FDC process and the effective date of March 31, 2013 predates the informal claim date.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for depression has been reopened and is granted. The issues of service connection for neck condition, heart condition, GERD, and acquired psychiatric disorder are also addressed.

Service connection for PTSD, ischemic heart disease, and tinnitus is granted. Effective dates are set for these grants. Service connection for dementia and bilateral hearing loss is remanded. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for ischemic heart disease and a TDIU are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 60 percent rating for ischemic heart disease, finding that the reduction from 60 percent to 30 percent was proper based on evidence showing improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease and occlusion and stenosis of the carotid artery, are being remanded due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The claims will be evaluated on their merits.

The Board has denied all service connection claims and increased rating claims for various conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease (CAD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sliding hiatal hernia with associated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with noncardiac chest pain.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death because there was no evidence showing that his heart disability, which he had since service, caused or contributed to his death.