Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, an initial compensable rating for residuals of prostate cancer, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran will need to undergo examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his heart conditions and the severity of his prostate cancer.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability and diabetes, both presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure, due to lack of evidence showing the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, which he claims is due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange), has been remanded because the VA cannot verify his claimed exposure based on his military records and new photographs provided by him. Further investigation is needed through the JSRRC.

The Veteran's chronic ischemic heart disease is rated at 100 percent, the highest possible rating. The Board granted this higher evaluation based on evidence showing that his service-connected condition alone resulted in a METs level of 3 or less.

The Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam is not established, and his pancreatic cancer, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes mellitus are not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition. The Board denied both the claims for service connection and dependency and indemnity compensation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a more contemporaneous examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The right elbow osteochondritis dissecans and acne vulgaris of chest and back issues have been remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active military service. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, hammer toe, low back disability, foot and leg disabilities, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board found that his condition did not meet the definition of ischemic heart disease.,Service connection for left and right knee disabilities was also denied. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s pre-existing bilateral knee conditions were less likely caused or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal of his claims for service connection for high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, stroke, right-sided weakness in the right foot, and right-sided weakness in the right hand has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The claim for service connection of a heart disability is reopened, but the Veteran's heart disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease to include as due to herbicide exposure and denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorder and sleep apnea are related to his service, including PTSD. The VA will gather additional medical records and conduct further examinations to determine these relationships.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied prior to February 5, 2002. From February 5, 2002 to June 19, 2002, he received a 10 percent rating. The Board found no evidence of significant changes in the Veteran's condition or treatment from this period onwards and granted a 60 percent rating for CAD from July 1, 2006 to September 24, 2008. From October 1, 2012 onwards, he received a 60 percent rating. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, as well as IHD, squamous cell carcinoma, MSA, and autonomic neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's heart condition and its relationship to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension was reopened and granted. The appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, IHD, DM, and PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating than 30 percent for the service-connected coronary artery disease have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and additional development is required, including obtaining USMC Reserve records and VA opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for high cholesterol, heart disability (including as secondary to herbicide exposure), and hypertension (including as secondary to PTSD). The case is remanded for further development.