Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his service-connected heart disability and acquired psychiatric disabilities.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) based on a need for regular aid and attendance of another person and/or at the housebound rate is also remanded.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is found to be at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and the claim for accrued benefits based on service connection for coronary artery disease with hypertension (claimed as heart condition) has been granted.

The Veteran is granted TDIU benefits from December 1, 2016 to March 24, 2019.,The Veteran's CAD rating remains at 60 percent from August 1, 2011 to March 24, 2019. A higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's post bypass scars are rated at 10 percent and a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease, status post cardiac stenting and heart murmur is remanded due to the inadequacy of a VA examination and the need to obtain private medical records.

The Board denied service connection for chloracne, finding that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chloracne and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.,The Board remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease and a skin condition (claimed as dermatitis), noting that there is insufficient evidence to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to Agent Orange and requesting an examination to determine if his current conditions are related to in-service events or diseases.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating from December 16, 2013 to August 1, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD, ischemic heart disease, and COPD are granted service connection. The skin cancer claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart disorder (coronary artery disease) have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's lung, sleep, heart, skin, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy claims are dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) has been denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was previously granted, but the Veteran is seeking a higher initial disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and concluded that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left foot scars, low back disability, neck disability, coronary artery disease, skin disability, osteomyelitis, and PTSD due to incomplete records from the Veteran's National Guard service. The Veteran needs to provide specific documented confirmation of the unavailability of the missing records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right Achilles tendon injury, diabetes mellitus, fatigue, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder (tachycardia), post-traumatic migraine headaches, sleep apnea, and vasovagal near-syncope, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for heart disease, lung cancer residuals, Horner’s syndrome, thoracic nerve disability, and loss of ribs secondary to lung cancer residuals due to exposure to burn pits during service. The case is being sent back for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of his service-connected conditions, specifically pulmonary embolism and prostate cancer. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart condition and pain in the left chest that radiates up into the shoulder and back have been granted. The heart condition claim was reopened due to new evidence, while the pain claim was granted based on the Veteran's reported symptoms.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected rheumatic heart disease, which materially contributed to his cause of death (CAD and CHF). The appeal for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as the claim is moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease (CAD) is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.