Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, including unstable angina, coronary artery disease, and acute myocardial infarction, due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. This decision is effective from the date of death (August 2010).

The Veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) has been reopened and granted. Service connection is denied for arthritis and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a heart disorder or related symptomatology attributable to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension is dismissed. Service connection for IBS, heart disorder, and thyroid disorder as secondary to PTSD with major depressive disorder (MDD) is granted effective June 12, 2009. A TDIU is also granted effective September 2, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with heart disease, renal dysfunction, and neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected conditions or exposure during service contributed to his death.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease is remanded. The appeal pertaining to the issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to June 17, 2014, for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease is dismissed.

The appeal regarding the bilateral hip disorder is dismissed. The appeals for left shoulder, right shoulder, peripheral vascular disease, and related neuropathy issues are remanded.

The claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted, but the VA reduced pension benefits due to income exceeding maximum annual pension rate limits. The case is remanded to recalculate the appellant's income and determine if she qualifies for pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and right knee disability. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, is remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for heart disability, respiratory disease (COPD), cervical spine and thoracic spine disability, right wrist disability, and bilateral ankle disability remains pending.

Service connection is denied for heart disease and stroke residuals as the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents or asbestos during service, and there is no direct evidence of a nexus between current conditions and service.,The expert opinion found that the Veteran's heart disability was more likely due to his post-service habits rather than any in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and psychiatric disability due to secondary service connection. The rating for hypertension prior to June 9, 2014, and renal disease with hypertension as of June 9, 2014, is also being remanded. Additionally, the TDIU claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was denied, and his claim for a TDIU was granted. The Board found that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable due to PTSD, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the absence of SSA disability benefits records. The case will be returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for PTSD and ischemic heart disease, as well as the TDIU rating claim due to the need for additional examinations and records review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, unspecified anxiety disorder, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), have resulted in total occupational impairment. The Board has granted Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) based on the combined rating of 80% for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD), status post 3-vessel bypass graft surgery, due to a lack of updated treatment records and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for a right eye disability, erectile dysfunction, hypertensive heart disease, diabetes mellitus (claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure), and a skin disability (claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure) need further development. The Veteran's claims will be remanded for additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, a bilateral eye condition, and hypertension, all as not being related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.