Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of cancer of the renal pelvis, right knee disability, CAD, and type 2 diabetes mellitus due to incomplete medical opinions and additional evidence. The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer is claimed as secondary to his renal pelvis cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and hypertension are considered a contributory cause of his death from blunt impact to the head, resulting in basilar skull fractures with subdural hemorrhage.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II due to a lack of personnel records verifying herbicide exposure in Panama. The Veteran's claims are related to possible herbicide exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD and unspecified adjustment disorder with anxious mood, is granted as service connected. The bladder disability claim has been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence linking pneumonia or coronary artery disease to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, Type II, neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and a pulmonary disability. The issues regarding service connection for these conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence on exposure and potential secondary relationships.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a lumbar spine disability was granted. The other claims of service connection were remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his alleged involvement in covert operations during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disability, and residuals of staphylococcus infection as they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various conditions related to his military service, including cancer, shoulder issues, taste loss, numbness, fatigue, psychiatric disorders, and other health concerns. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left shoulder disability, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness of the face and neck. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a condition manifested by loss of sense of taste, including any related conditions such as burned tongue or numbness of the face and neck. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a condition manifested by numbness of the left side of the face, neck, and chest, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or fatigue. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a condition manifested by chronic fatigue, including anemia and any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders, as well as any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for residual scars related to cancer treatment, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a disability manifested by neurological deficits, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a thyroid disorder, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for fatty liver (hepatic steatosis), including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart disorder, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including diarrhea and constipation, as well as any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for acid reflux, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea and other manner of sleep disorders, as well as any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for erectile dysfunction, including any related conditions such as loss of sense of taste or numbness. The Board has ordered these claims remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Okinawa, Japan.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, he does not meet the eligibility requirements as his eye disability is not severe enough to qualify him under the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.808. The Veteran's claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant are also denied due to lack of qualifying disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for various conditions related to his diabetes and coronary artery disease was partially granted, with some issues receiving a separate rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted. The claim of secondary service connection for labile hypertension as secondary to PTSD is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of adequate examination. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his hypertension is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes, and to assess the current severity of his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as there was no service connection for the conditions that led to his death, and exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam is not established.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which may be related to service-connected conditions or herbicide exposure. The issue of service connection for COPD is also on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pneumonia is denied. The Board grants a 70 percent rating for PTSD, effective from August 12, 2011, and grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder is granted. The claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and seizure disorder are denied.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that it did not have onset in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. The Veteran's current condition was attributed to his smoking history and hyperlipidemia.