Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the low back. The issue of secondary service connection for bilateral foot condition is now at issue, as well as whether the Veteran's heart condition is related to an episode of syncope during service in May 1993.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at Takhli, Thailand.

The Board has reopened the claims of entitlement to service connection for right hip, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities. The claim of entitlement to service connection for heart disability (enlarged heart) is also reopened.

Service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The hearing loss and coronary artery disease cases are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has decided that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and PTSD. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's service records indicate he served on board USS Enterprise but not in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents at or near the DMZ during his service in Korea and thus could not establish presumptive service connection.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty service.,Both conditions were found to be not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted as it is presumed to be linked to his in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and the relationship between the Veteran's heart disease and his death. The examiner is requested to provide a clear opinion on whether COPD had its onset in service or is related to service, including conceded herbicide agent exposure. Additionally, an opinion is needed on whether the Veteran’s ischemic heart disease was the immediate or underlying cause of death or etiologically related thereto.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as SSA records. The AOJ is instructed to secure the Veteran’s complete service personnel records and any in-service mental health treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, heart disability, and stroke. The Veteran's diabetes was not incurred in or related to his service. His heart disability and strokes were also not related to his service.

The Board has denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, heart disability, and cervical spine disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied earlier effective dates and increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetic nephropathy, PTSD, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy. The claim was not granted as there was no evidence of an intent to file a claim prior to March 14, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been denied. The claim for service connection for a heart condition has not met the criteria. The Veteran's PTSD was increased to 50% effective September 29, 2010. The claim for sleep apnea is reopened.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, which was denied in 1991 due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service, is granted with an effective date of June 18, 1991. The condition developed as a result of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has denied reopening the claim for hypertension and denied an increased rating for coronary artery disease, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence suggesting a potential association between hypertension and herbicide exposure. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's hypertensive heart disease and/or hypertension are related to his service, specifically his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to PTSD, and for ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation aggravation of hypertension is remanded due to incomplete VA examination reports.