Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disability, finding that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and service. The appeal regarding the secondary service connection for lumbar spine condition is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and unspecified adjustment disorder), and coronary artery disease is granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise regarding these claims, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's CAD and anxiety disorder with PTSD symptoms have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his coronary artery disease and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and needs further clarification of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, anxiety disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Board granted an effective date of April 6, 2011 for the grant of service connection for the cause of death due to ischemic heart disease. The Veteran served in Vietnam and died from a covered herbicide disease (ischemic heart disease). As the claim was filed more than one year after the August 31, 2010 effective date of the liberalizing law adding ischemic heart disease to the list of diseases presumptively associated with exposure to herbicides, an earlier effective date is not warranted. The Board found that the appellant's claim was reviewed at her request more than a year after the effective date and granted an effective date one year prior to the filing of her claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease (CAD), and chronic bronchitis. The case is being remanded to obtain updated pulmonary function test results from Dr. Caparro.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for coronary artery disease, including as due to herbicide exposure. The AOJ is required to obtain additional records and evidence related to the Veteran's claimed exposures.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease prior to August 21, 2013, and in excess of 60 percent thereafter was denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7005.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for coronary artery disease from October 12, 2012 to March 1, 2016 was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher than 60 percent disability rating. The reduction of his rating from 60 percent to 10 percent effective March 1, 2016 was found proper based on improvement in his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and ischemic heart disease, finding no evidence to support these conditions.,Specifically, there was no current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease in the Veteran's records.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, PTSD, and CAD due to insufficient evidence or further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and a need for a VA examination to determine if his heart condition is related to service, anxiety disorder, or herbicide exposure.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability. The Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims (Court) has vacated this decision and remanded the case to the Board for further proceedings, specifically requesting an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s claimed heart disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen his hypothyroidism and sleep apnea service connection claims, and the arthritis, back condition, neck condition, high cholesterol, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer residuals, coronary artery disease, scar due to coronary artery bypass grafting, scar due to radical prostatectomy, PTSD, and rating increase claims have all been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, ischemic heart disease, right eye enucleation, and other conditions, are found to preclude substantially gainful employment prior to March 2, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, heart disorder, left leg tumor (prostate cancer), vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and sleep apnea were not incurred or aggravated during service. The Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and military service.,There is insufficient evidence to presume exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam or Korea.

The Veteran's CAD, peripheral vascular disease, depressive disorder NOS, and right leg tendonitis are all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions. The arthritis and hip disabilities were denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and verifying in-service exposure to herbicide agents.