Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction. The claims for rectal incontinence and urinary incontinence are remanded as further development is needed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations of his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for exercise stress testing to determine the current severity of the Veteran's rheumatic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's heart condition and his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD, frostbite injury to bilateral ears, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, difficulty sleeping, and bilateral hearing loss due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Board has remanded the case to address service connection for heart disease due to herbicide exposure and TDIU from September 30, 2015. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a combined rating of at least 70%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of glaucoma and also denied his request for an increased rating for coronary artery disease (CAD). The decision on both claims is based on lack of new and material evidence.

The claim of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart condition, to include atrial fibrillation (claimed as ischemic heart disease, heart disease, and coronary artery disease) is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's heart surgeries and his current cardiac disability. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for diabetes mellitus as there is no probative medical evidence that indicates it was incurred in service or diagnosed within the presumptive period after discharge.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for reopening of service connection for hypertension and PTSD, as well as remanded several other issues including sleep apnea, kidney disorder, neurological disabilities, peripheral neuropathies, and radiculopathies. Service connection is denied for liver disorder, heart disorder, right upper extremity neurological disability, left upper extremity neurological disability, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied claims for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, below the left knee amputation, below the right knee amputation, renal failure, and heart disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death, entitlement to nonservice-connected death pension benefits, and accrued benefits. The causes listed on the Veteran’s death certificate were not related to his active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 6, 2011, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease status post percutaneous coronary intervention (claimed as ischemic heart disease) is denied. The Board found no indication in the record that a formal or informal claim was filed before April 4, 2012.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II is granted. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the issue of service connection for a kidney disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection and rating for various conditions, as well as a hearing loss evaluation. The effective date for tinnitus remains November 3, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for peripheral artery disease, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, heart condition (pacemaker, heart attack, stints [sic], bypass, dying heart/complete vascular system failing), and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety with panic attacks).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cardiac disability, including ischemic heart disease, has been dismissed without prejudice due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee, thoracolumbar spine, and heart disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess their current severity.