Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, claimed as CAD, is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) eligibility, as well as the issue of individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% evaluation of his service-connected coronary artery disease is dismissed as there was no valid freestanding claim, and the only means to establish an earlier effective date would be to show clear and unmistakable error in a prior rating decision.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded the case for further evaluation due to an unclear etiology of his syncopal event.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to Agent Orange in off-shore waters of Vietnam. The deck logs from his ships during relevant time periods will be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease and a higher rating for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings higher than 30 percent for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, finding that additional development is required to determine if he served in the Republic of Vietnam. The Veteran contends his conditions are related to his time aboard the U.S.S. Tripoli while operating offshore Vietnam.

The Board denied reopening of the previously denied claims for prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, heart disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling an examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's ischemic heart disease. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined and must be addressed concurrently.

The Veteran's appeals regarding PTSD, an effective date for PTSD service connection, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer have all been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted. The peripheral neuropathy claims (upper and lower extremities) are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The left kidney disability claim is remanded as the etiology needs further examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, miliaria (chloracne), thyroid condition, heart condition, bilateral foot condition, abnormal toenail condition, and abnormal skin growth. The decision also noted that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim was not addressed as it pertained to an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of coronary artery disease was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's death is remanded for further review of his service-connected conditions and potential Agent Orange exposure. The cause of death, metastatic pancreatic cancer, may be related to his service-connected ischemic heart disease or to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and heart condition due to potential issues with the medical opinions provided. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for a skin disability as his current folliculitis does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1117.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.,There were no claims pending at the time of the Veteran’s death that would have qualified him for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development and medical opinion regarding service connection for valvular heart disease. Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder has been reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim. However, the Veteran’s PTSD is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders due to his symptoms being described as mild or transient with occasional decrease in work efficiency during periods of significant stress.