Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their passing away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to exposure to herbicide agent, as there is insufficient evidence regarding whether he has this condition. The case will be sent back to VA for further examination and development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disability, finding that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed heart condition or functional impairment resulting from such.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Thailand, which may be presumed to have caused his myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease. Service connection is therefore granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and determination of the merits of various service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DMII, IHD, and OSA as secondary to DMII are granted. The case is remanded for a VA examination regarding the etiology of OSA.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating.,A TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the concurrent grant of a 100% PTSD rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease and hypertension due to service-connected migraine syndrome, as well as hyperlipidemia. The Veteran's heart disease and hypertension are being reviewed by a physician reviewer to determine if they are due to or aggravated by his service-connected migraine syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's fatal respiratory disabilities had onset in, or are otherwise related to service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's cause of death was service-connected, and he had a total disability rating from a service-connected disability since July 14, 1998. The appellant is the daughter of the Veteran who died in March 2009. She filed for retroactive Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits but did not file within one year of receiving notice of her mother's eligibility to DEA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, tinnitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left ear hearing loss. His combined rating is 80 percent. The Board finds it necessary to remand the issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to lack of opinion on impact on work.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's atrial fibrillation is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's heart disability, manifested by myxomatous mitral valve disease and mitral regurgitation, is granted. The Board also remanded the cases for service connection of a left shoulder disability, cerebrovascular accident residuals, and hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease, coronary heart disease, and right-hand neuropathy.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis and PTSD are found to be related to his service. However, the Veteran's hypercholesterolemia is not a disability for which VA benefits can be awarded.,Service connection has been granted for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to exposure in Korea.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Thailand during his military service is presumed. The claims are remanded for further action on diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, ulcers, and a loss of consciousness condition. The Veteran's heart disorder was not shown to have started during service or be related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for ulcers was also denied as there is no evidence showing the condition began during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records related to the Veteran's National Guard service, and requests that VA obtain all relevant records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for coronary artery disease as his claim was not properly reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and atrial fibrillation due to in-service exposure. The issues are intertwined with his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to bilateral lower extremity PVD or right lower extremity DVT, and remanded the issues of initial rating in excess of 40 percent for PVD of the right lower extremity and rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of DVT of the right lower extremity with history of pulmonary embolus.