Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases due to pending litigation in Procopio v. Wilkie, and further development is required regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents, radiation, and asbestos.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted as a result of exposure to toxic herbicide agents. The cause of death, end stage renal disease caused by hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is also presumed related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for ischemic heart disease due to in-service herbicide exposure is being remanded because the law has changed and it needs to be determined if he entered Vietnamese territorial waters during his service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 12, 2015.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his service-connected PTSD, as it may affect his ability to function and perform tasks in an occupational setting.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus II as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury/disease that would support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and IHD have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability has also been reopened.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his service-connected coronary artery disease has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and a bilateral knee disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for right foot stress fracture, dermatitis, migraine headaches, and PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for a compensable evaluation for allergic rhinosinusitis prior to September 30, 2013 is denied. The claims of service connection for bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, left foot condition, CFS, heart condition, and dermatitis are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and a pituitary gland tumor, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty service.,For the arteriosclerotic heart disease, the Board noted no chronicity of symptomatology in service or within the applicable presumptive period. For the pituitary gland tumor, the Board found insufficient evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened and granted. The claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as it relates back to the original claim date. Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus is remanded due to potential herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stroke, heart disability (claimed as secondary to surgery for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, SP fusion, instrumentation/bone graft), and dyskinesia are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will seek additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by a service-connected myocardial infarction, which is considered ischemic heart disease. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because his TDIU rating was less than 10 years prior to his death.

The Board denied a TDIU prior to August 23, 2010 due to factual errors in the January 2019 decision. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment at that time.

The Board denied service connection for elevated blood pressure, a heart murmur, and ischemic heart disease as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including congestive heart failure with shortness of breath and atrial fibrillation, thyroid disability, cataracts, colonic diverticulitis, bladder disability, and ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing entitlement to service connection for these conditions.