Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, and hypertension. The heart condition (claimed as ischemic heart disease) is granted with service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, but the heart disorder claim is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his heart, diabetes, stroke, and lung disabilities due to insufficient examination reports. The claims are remanded for additional development including obtaining VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating for CAD, as the most probative examination indicated a METs score of 1-3 due solely to service-connected conditions, which is below the threshold for a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection was granted for any of the conditions or issues.

The Veteran's cause of death, cardio-respiratory failure with metastatic cancer, is not service connected as the evidence does not show that his renal cell carcinoma was related to or caused by service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found no causal relationship between the Veteran’s active service and his diagnosed IHD or DMII.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition, back condition, heart condition and bilateral shoulder condition due to their inextricability with the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran is seeking payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical services received at Faith Regional Health from May 23, 2016, to May 26, 2016. The VAMC denied the claim because the Veteran was covered by Medicare and did not have a service-connected disability that would allow for payment under 38 U.S.C. § 1725. On remand, the VAMC should reconsider the claim in light of the change in regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disability, left lower extremity peripheral nerve disability, and right lower extremity peripheral nerve disability. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis or history of these disabilities.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any heart disabilities, including ischemic heart disease. The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease, due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dismissed his appeal for an increased rating for service-connected CAD.

The Veteran's heart disorder (coronary artery disease) is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure, and his diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to a heart disorder is remanded.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal of the denial for service connection for CABG secondary to diabetes mellitus, and the Board dismissed the issue as a result.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure in burn pits and Agent Orange. The issues of heart condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and peripheral neuropathy are being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Korea or Vietnam, and the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted. His current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss raises the possibility of substantiating his claim.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease and headaches was denied as there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the conditions.