Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to inextricability with other pending claims.

The Veteran's heart disease, which includes atrial fibrillation and sinus bradycardia, is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypothyroidism. His rating for hypothyroidism remains at 60 percent.

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of CAD was granted as January 9, 2009. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.,The Veteran's initial rating for CAD associated with DM2 remains at 60 percent and no higher rating is granted.,The Veteran's rating for diabetic dermatopathy remains at 10 percent and no higher rating is granted.,The Veteran's rating for DM2 remains at 20 percent and no higher rating is granted.,The Veteran's ratings for PN in the LLE and RLE remain at 10 percent and no higher ratings are granted from August 15, 2016 onwards. Prior to that date, they were rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran was granted TDIU effective July 1, 2014.,No specific effective date is assigned for the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is remanded due to potential exposure to herbicides during his service in Vietnam waters, but the evidence does not conclusively establish this. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is related to heart disease, which is an enumerated disease related to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that further development is needed regarding the precise location of the USS Garcia during the Veteran’s service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for depression, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia due to new and material evidence. However, these claims have not been substantiated as there is no established link between the current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, type II diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, heart disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of various extremities due to additional development being necessary. The Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange is not at issue as his ship USS Diamond Head was within territorial waters.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and a need for an additional medical opinion. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was caused by his coronary artery disease.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic renal disease due to his request to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a heart disability due to additional development being required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current findings of residuals of blood poisoning and denied service connection for this condition. The claims for lupus, heart disorder, and low back disorder are remanded due to insufficient development.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, heart disorder, dental disorder, cysts, lumps, and scars of the left breast, and residuals of colon cancer due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Board also remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and depression) based on in-service stressor of searching for POWs in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) with stent.

The Veteran's heart conditions, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease (CAD), are being remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting opinions on their onset and causation.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his hospitalization at Jupiter Medical Center and Palm Beach Cardiovascular Panel Readers from November 25th to November 26th, 2013 are eligible for payment or reimbursement by VA due to the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease associated with herbicide exposure is remanded due to the need for clarification on his METs level and LVEF.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish that her current condition is related to her military service.,Her claim for service connection for a heart disorder has been reopened and is granted. The Board found new evidence showing she currently suffers from coronary artery disease post-CABG surgery.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hysterectomy was denied as there was no evidence linking the condition to her military service.,Her claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and is granted. The Board found new evidence showing she currently suffers from major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep condition has not been substantiated, as there is no evidence that the current condition began during her military service or is related to any in-service injury.