Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure, as well as his claim for a higher rating for dermatophytosis. Additional development is needed regarding the Veteran’s reports of herbicide agent exposure and his service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further medical evaluation regarding whether the Veteran had ischemic heart disease prior to his death, which may be related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hand disorder, gout, heart disorder, knee disorder, sinusitis, kidney disorder, and tourette syndrome. The appeals were either not pursued or new evidence was submitted that did not relate to the original reasons for denial.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides while aboard the USS Topeka in Da Nang Harbor, Vietnam.

The Board has vacated its October 2018 decision and remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, ED, and skin cancer. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding his exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides and the relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease prior to June 3, 2010 was denied as the evidence did not show a workload of greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial disability rating for a residual scar from heart surgery was also denied as there were no disabling effects associated with the scar.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability was reopened and granted, with an initial rating of 50 percent.,Service connection for depressive disorder NOS was also granted, but the Veteran is not entitled to a higher initial rating or earlier effective date.

The Board has found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for CAD, status post myocardial infarction from 100 percent to 10 percent was proper. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating and TDIU is remanded due to need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted at a 30 percent level effective December 1, 2011. The appeal period prior to this date remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and hypertension due to unresolved issues regarding potential herbicide exposure. The Veteran's military service on USS St. Paul is also under review.

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure is granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension due to herbicide agent exposure is remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as to service connection for Parkinson’s disease, an increased rating for tinnitus, and total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted, but without verification of his duty status on June 23, 1971. The Veteran is asked to provide information about any treatment he received after the incident and all periods of active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to concerns about causation and aggravation of his conditions by VA treatment, particularly regarding ascites caused or aggravated by Hepatitis C with PegInterferon.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gum disease and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to gum disease have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), and chronic kidney disease due to diabetes mellitus are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, rheumatoid arthritis, tinnitus, hypertension, beriberi, and irritable bowel syndrome are denied as there is no recognized period of active military service during which these conditions could have been incurred or aggravated.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information on whether the Veteran's heart condition is related to service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current heart conditions meet the definition of ischemic heart disease or are directly caused by service.