Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

All claims seeking to reopen previously denied service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a retrospective addendum opinion considering the effects of his medication on his ability to work.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information regarding the baseline level of severity for the appellant's congestive heart failure. The cases will be returned for further development and review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and a need for an opinion on the etiology of his heart disabilities.

The appeal for service connection for high cholesterol is dismissed. The claims of service connection for heart condition and hypertension, both due to in-service herbicide exposure, are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, bilateral eye nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, status post coronary artery bypass with history of myocardial infarction, and skin cancer are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,The Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during his service on the USS Pictor. Therefore, he cannot establish service connection for any condition based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's death was caused by myocardial infraction, which is not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding his heart disease and the need for a clarifying opinion on whether any diagnosed condition is related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability from January 19, 2010 to September 14, 2014.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss and coronary artery disease due to in-service noise exposure and presumed Agent Orange exposure, respectively.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, as well as his respiratory disorders (sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, acute respiratory disorder) are remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD with depressive disorder and coronary artery disease, finding that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification on METs limitations related to his coronary artery disease and the need to obtain VA treatment records from S. Cardio.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected coronary artery disease is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, hypertension, partial colon removal, kidney disorders, tremor disorder, and neurological disorder of the feet.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for lower back and heart disabilities, but has remanded them for further development to clarify dates of reserve service and conduct VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease (IHD) prior to December 28, 2011, and a disability rating in excess of 60 percent thereafter is denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted as June 19, 2007, but no earlier. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD) is also denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether any diagnosed heart disability is related to active service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's presumed exposure to Agent Orange must be considered.