Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing heart murmur increased in severity during service, which is required for a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to exposure to herbicide agents. Additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's allegations of exposure in service and to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's spouse filed a DIC claim in January 2011, after the effective date of the liberalizing law. The Board denied an earlier effective date as there was no prior communication about death benefits and the claim was received within one year of the effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and skin cancer need further development due to inadequate notice of information or evidence required to substantiate his claims, as well as incomplete medical records. The claims are being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and heart disorder due to the receipt of additional relevant service records. The claims will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD has been reopened, and the appeal is granted to that extent. The VA examinations have not provided sufficient information on whether his acquired psychiatric disorders are superimposed upon his personality disorder or proximately due to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, as well as CAD secondary to herbicide agent exposure, are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence regarding his reported stressors. Additionally, a VA examination is required to determine whether he now has a current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of ischemic heart disease due to exposure to herbicides, as VA did not satisfy its duty to assist in verifying the Veteran's claimed exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to alleged exposure to chemicals in service. The VA is required to provide an examination if there is evidence that a disability may be associated with active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claims for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and a heart condition claimed as tachycardia are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since August 26, 2016. The initial rating for CAD remains at 60 percent from May 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service personnel records and updated VA treatment records are needed for a full review of the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease is remanded due to the need for another medical examination.

The Veteran's heart disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation, are presumed to be due to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), which is recognized as a type of ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue is denied.,An evaluation of 70 percent, but no higher, for major depressive disorder with PTSD and insomnia disorder prior to December 15, 2016, is granted. An evaluation greater than 70 percent thereafter is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease and prostate cancer on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure, while diabetes mellitus remains remanded.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 10 percent from January 7, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximate a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease is granted, with a 30 percent rating effective from September 2, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease from September 1, 2011 to August 13, 2015 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals scars status post coronary artery bypass graft is remanded due to insufficient evidence.