Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart condition and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm was denied as there is no evidence of a link between the conditions and his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection was granted in a June 2013 rating decision, and he is now receiving benefits for diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and major depressive disorder due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The agent fees were awarded based on this grant of benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in service or that his conditions were related to such exposure.,reasoning

The Veteran's heart condition, including ischemic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, coronary artery disease, heart block, and atrial arrhythmia, is granted as service-connected due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's stroke with paralysis is also granted as secondary to his service-connected heart condition. Service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy and right upper extremity neuropathy are denied. An earlier effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of this condition during his lifetime and thus denying presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD prior to October 9, 2013 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to July 31, 2017 was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting such a rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, bilateral glaucoma, and a heart condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need VA examinations to determine the severity of his PTSD, etiology of any diagnosed heart condition, and whether his hypertension and bilateral glaucoma are related to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease with single-vessel coronary disease and diabetes mellitus, Type II (DMII) are granted service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities are remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hand disability (arthritis), bilateral knee disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, gall bladder removal residuals, thyroid condition, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The claims are pending on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sarcoidosis and a heart condition other than coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for heart condition has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for the right shoulder disability, but only as a result of new evidence received since the final denial in 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include heart condition, stomach condition, skin condition, and depression.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease is remanded due to the need for additional examination and treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as there was no evidence of workloads greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The Veteran's skin condition other than pseudofolliculitis barbae and heart disability have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine their etiology.,Sleep apnea has also been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and his service connection for ischemic heart disease. The Veteran must be examined to determine if his current condition is related to his in-service complaints of breathing difficulties and chest discomfort.

The Board has determined that additional opinions and examinations are needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee condition, vision condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, and high blood pressure.

The Veteran's appeal for heart disease was dismissed as he withdrew his request.,Two claims regarding CUE in the November 2004 rating decision were also withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service, including exposure to environmental toxins at Naval Air Station Dallas.