Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) with his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and conduct new examinations for his heart disability and headache disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability and remanded the claim of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's heart disability is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and left leg disorder, but denied all other issues. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding no credible evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during his service and thus not meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support a direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if he meets the criteria for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional development being required, including obtaining Army Reserve records and private or VA treatment records. The Veteran is also to be afforded new VA examinations for his bilateral knee disability, Gulf War Syndrome, undiagnosed illness, and medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illnesses including dizziness and fatigue, as well as his heart disability (CAD).

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, plantar fasciitis, bone spurs and arthritis of the right foot (including calcaneal spur), and left foot injury are being remanded due to new evidence submitted since previous denials. The claims will be further evaluated based on the Veteran's service history and any potential exposure to Agent Orange or herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition secondary to his service-connected Grave’s disease with insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue, as well as an increase rating for his Grave’s disease. The Board found that there was no current disability involving a heart condition and that the Veteran did not have thyroid enlargement or tachycardia.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus and denied his claim for ischemic heart disease. The reopening is based on new evidence submitted since the May 2009 rating decision, but the claims are still denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board has denied reopening of service connection claims for valvular heart disease and hypertension, but has remanded the claim for pituitary macroadenoma (brain tumor). The Veteran's active duty service is not presumed to have exposed him to herbicides. A VA examination is needed to determine if his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including skin disorder, diabetes mellitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, coronary artery disease due to exposure to herbicide agents, loss of vision, erectile dysfunction, and vertigo. The claims were all denied as the evidence did not show a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions and examinations are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, heart disorder, and headache disorder.

The Veteran's child was granted an effective date of September 19, 2012 for additional compensation due to the establishment of a qualifying disability rating (a rating of 30 percent or greater) on that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right leg disorder, ischemic heart disease (IHD), residuals of a stroke, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and his active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran is in need of aid and attendance by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder (previously diagnosed as panic disorder without agoraphobia and major depressive disorder, recurrent and moderate) is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 100 percent rating for non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for atherosclerotic vascular disease, finding that the evidence did not show ischemic heart disease prior to June 18, 2005.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for various conditions, including right eye retina disability, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, constipation, PTSD, GERD, ED, and prostate failure. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is conceded, and he contends his conditions are related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to Agent Orange and other chemical solvents, as well as the relationship between the Veteran's coronary artery disease and service.