Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, but remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and renal disease due to potential links with herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's compensable rating for scars of the chest and thigh, status post coronary artery bypass surgery, is denied. The earlier effective date prior to August 31, 2010 for service connection of scars of the chest and thigh is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes, hypertension, neuropathy of the feet and legs, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and depression due to potential exposure to herbicides while serving on ships off the coast of Vietnam. The claim for service connection for a headache condition is also remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand, which could potentially establish presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted, but only as secondary to diabetes mellitus and/or PTSD.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete information about his work history and income. Additional records are needed, including updated VA treatment records and a completed VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and the need for a VA examination. The heart disorder claim is related to Agent Orange exposure, but further development is needed as the Veteran's unit was not listed in recognized units. For the spina bifida claim, the Veteran needs to be verified if he was exposed to Agent Orange at Hill Air Force Base.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and type II diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence confirming the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disease. The claim is reopened, but further examination and evaluation are needed.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to February 4, 2008, for the grant of entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance. The evidence did not show that the appellant was in need of regular aid and assistance or permanently housebound before this date.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation and earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records.

An earlier effective date of April 5, 2011, is granted for the award of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). An effective date prior to December 3, 2012, is denied for the award of service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his non-service-connected back disability prevents him from working in sedentary positions.

The Board has remanded the case due to new developments in the Veteran's employment status and service-connected disabilities, requiring further consideration of his eligibility for VA VR&E services.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus and atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his military service, nor may it be presumed to be. His heart conditions are not related to his military service or within a year of discharge.,Service connection was also denied for degenerative arthritis of the right thumb and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar and cervical spines.

The Veteran's heart disease, including his cardiac transplant and bypass graft, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right bundle branch heart block and ischemic heart disease, finding no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also found that there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a heart disorder, hypertension, and a pelvic mass due to insufficient evidence regarding the dates of active duty training (ACDUTRA) during which these conditions may have been incurred or aggravated.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in a grant of TDIU.