Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has ordered the Veteran to undergo a new VA examination for his sleep apnea and heart disease claims, as these issues are inextricably intertwined. The examiner must provide opinions on whether the Veteran's conditions are related to service-connected asbestosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding service connection for aortic valve replacement and its relation to Agent Orange exposure, as well as secondary service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Veteran's heart disability was not shown to have originated during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking the current condition to service. The Board found that the Veteran's current heart murmur noted at separation was benign and unrelated to his current heart disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder and urinary disorder due to herbicide exposure. The claims are being remanded because of outstanding private treatment records, unclear diagnoses, and inadequate opinions regarding causation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease related to service, including herbicide exposure. The cause of death will also be determined.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board has remanded the cases to obtain additional evidence and conduct further examinations.

An effective date of June 12, 2001 is granted for the award of service connection for ischemic heart disease. The issues on pancytopenia and kidney disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease does not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, as he has experience working in sedentary positions and his education and work history do not require physical exertion.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and renal cancer are remanded due to the lack of verification of herbicide exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to June 6, 2011 and 70 percent thereafter. The RO has remanded the issues of service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities, a rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease, and an effective date prior to September 1, 2009.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and left ventricular hypertrophy are rated at 60 percent effective January 20, 2016. The condition has been stable with no episodes of congestive heart failure or significant changes in ejection fraction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, skin cancer, and a neurological disability (claimed as brain tumor) due to incomplete medical records and insufficient examination.

The Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a connection between the Veteran's abdomen and intestinal disorders and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current heart disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied due to his current employment, but the Board finds that he should be afforded new VA examinations and updated treatment records as his employment status has changed.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disease did not have its onset during his active service and was not otherwise causally connected to his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and rating decisions related to diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, and chronic congestive heart failure. The Veteran's conditions were found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has decided that a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's renal disease and diabetes mellitus contributed to his death, given his service-connected conditions and exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back injury, heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and schizophrenia), head injury, and bilateral foot disability. The decision also remanded several issues.