Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded four claims for service connection due to the need for further examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is being remanded for further investigation due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Board will determine if the USS Kitty Hawk and USS Kearsarge were within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) while the Veteran was aboard, which would presume exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied. Service connection for ischemic heart disease and depressive disorder were granted with effective dates of June 1, 2006, and January 4, 2018 respectively. The Veteran received a 60% rating for ischemic heart disease before February 22, 2013, and a higher rating was denied after that date. A 70% rating was granted for depressive disorder starting from January 4, 2018.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by or related to his military service, and therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a heart disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a restoration of a 30 percent evaluation for CAD, denied service connection for sleep apnea, and denied TDIU. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at the maximum allowable under current criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for coronary bypass surgery due to coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure and diabetes mellitus, type II are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is granted. The left knee disability and right knee disability are all granted, but the increased ratings for both knees prior to specific dates are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's osteoporosis medication caused his heart condition and if VA negligence contributed to his MRSA infection.

The Veteran's current arteriosclerotic/ischemic heart disease was not manifest in service or to a degree of 10 percent within 1 year of separation from service, may not be presumed to be related to service, and is unrelated to any incident of service. The claim for service connection for heart disease is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and Type II diabetes mellitus as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents need further investigation due to lack of information on the ships' locations during his active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and evaluations related to various conditions have been dismissed.,The Veteran has also been granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, claimed as ischemic heart disease, is being remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether his current heart condition is related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The claims for service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection decisions were made.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issues of service connection for CAD and left knee condition due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the right middle finger was denied. The Board found no additional functional loss due to pain and concluded that the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was reopened based on new evidence, but the issue remains pending as it has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and coronary artery disease have been reopened, but the Board has remanded both issues due to lack of verification of exposure to herbicide agents in England.

The Veteran's cause of death, atrial fibrillation, is found to be related to service and specifically to ischemic heart disease which was caused by exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease is remanded due to the need to determine if his symptoms prior to September 15, 2006 were manifestations of the condition.