Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a heart disability and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of evidence on record.

The Veteran's heart disabilities, including myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, congestive heart disease, and others, are determined to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer are granted due to exposure to herbicides during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas in July 1967. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange, which allows for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his claim for eye problems and basal cell carcinoma. Service connection is established for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye problems and basal cell carcinoma are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II. The appellant is also entitled to burial benefits as she personally incurred expenses related to the Veteran’s funeral and burial.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation due to new theories of entitlement regarding exposure to ionized radiation during active duty.

The Veteran claims service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide agent exposure. The Board has ordered a remand to verify the Veteran's account of being in Vietnam and exposed to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is about the propriety of reducing her disability rating for hypertensive heart disease from 60 percent to noncompensable. The AOJ should obtain relevant records and attempt to provide a new rating decision.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to complications from pancreatic adenocarcinoma with ischemic heart disease as a significant contributing cause. The Board denied service connection for both conditions, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other presumptive conditions and insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of coronary artery disease and SMC at the housebound rate was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a higher rating for CAD, as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7005. For SMC, the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities do not combine with his coronary artery disease to reach the statutory threshold of 60% combined disability ratings.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and erectile dysfunction were denied service connection as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including atrial fibrillation and supraventricular arrhythmia, was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicide agents or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board denied the claim as there is no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within one year after service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 60 percent prior to February 22, 2012, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter, for service-connected ischemic heart disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back strain, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease (also claimed as coronary stent placement), and neurological disorder have been denied. The claim for a rating of 100 percent for schizophrenia has been granted.

The Veteran's increased PTSD rating and service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found that the current evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from February 1, 2013 to July 7, 2016 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and Type II diabetes mellitus are granted as due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's heart disability is rated at 30 percent from June 1, 2012 onwards. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for a painful surgical scar associated with the heart disability. The matter of entitlement to an additional temporary total evaluation for reimplantation of a cardiac pacemaker is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IHD was denied, but his claims for DM and PN were granted. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's PN.,DM has been granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service.