Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and eye disability have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo has been remanded as an examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current peripheral vestibular disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a migraine disability has been remanded as an examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current headache condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been remanded as an examination is needed to determine if he meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance is granted effective August 31, 2010. The claim to increase his nonservice-connected pension due to unreimbursed medical expenses in 2011 and 2012 is denied because he did not submit his claim within the same or next calendar year from when the expenses were incurred.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, and a psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, depression, insomnia, anxiety, nightmares) as the evidence did not show an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for updated treatment records. The Veteran's heart disability is being reviewed again with new evidence and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's CAD, specifically because he failed to attend an examination scheduled by VA.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his brain cancer was not caused by or contributed to by exposure to herbicide agents (e.g., Agent Orange) during his active service. The Veteran had other service-connected conditions but they were deemed unlikely to have caused or contributed substantially to his death.

Allergic rhinitis and tension headaches service connection granted.,CAD secondary to hypertension service connection issue remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's post-operative residuals of a hysterectomy, including as secondary to her service-connected uterine fibroids. The decision also grants service connection for heart disability and skin disability, both considered secondary to pre-existing conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart condition, thoracic aortic aneurysm, and eye disorder due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer residuals, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bronchitis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease as the Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

Service connection for a low back condition is granted.,Service connection for hypertension and ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, PTSD, heart condition, and stroke. Service connection was granted for unspecified trauma-related disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the left shoulder disability claim, while the cervical spine disability claim was reopened based on new evidence showing a diagnosis of chronic neck pain. Service connection for heart disorder and respiratory disability were not established due to lack of current diagnoses or functional impairment. The mood disorder claim is granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, degenerative arthritis of the knees, hypertension, obesity, IVDS with secondary obesity, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The Board has granted a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability prior to September 14, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of a direct in-service injury or disease and insufficient continuity of symptoms since discharge. The Board also found no presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions including lupus disorder, CAD with congestive heart failure and bypass surgery, thyroid disorder, and diabetes mellitus, type II, due to exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ must submit multiple requests to the JSRRC covering different 60-day periods to verify the Veteran's reported exposure.

The Veteran's right knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression have been reopened. The remaining claims are remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected tinea does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, and the issue of an increased rating for ischemic heart disease is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for heart disease and diabetes mellitus are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.