Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, lung disability, heart disability, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, and prostate cancer, are remanded due to the need for further verification of in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's daughter was denied retroactive benefits for her father's ischemic heart disease as there is no evidence of a pending claim prior to December 22, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and the Veteran's symptoms are attributed to other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance is denied because the earliest factually ascertainable date that he was entitled to SMC based on aid and attendance was September 23, 2013.

The Board has remanded the DIC claims due to incomplete development of evidence and issues regarding the effective date of a rating for HIV/AIDS. The Veteran's cause of death is also under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and multiple myeloma, both due to herbicide exposure, have been granted.,Service connection has also been established for posttraumatic headaches associated with traumatic brain injury, but the Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, finding the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (hypertensive heart disease and hypertension) do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's current heart disorder was not demonstrated in or directly related to an occurrence during active service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's coronary artery disease and his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and heart condition was reopened. The claims for the gastrointestinal disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities were granted, while the claim for the heart condition was denied.

The Veteran's low back and cervical spine conditions are rated at the maximum available under the applicable diagnostic codes, and a higher rating is not warranted. The CAD condition has also been appropriately rated.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for lung, heart, and acquired psychiatric disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a Board decision.

The DIC claim is denied because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not continuously rated totally disabling for a period of 10 or more years prior to his death. The cause of death claim is remanded as an addendum opinion is needed.

The Veteran's cause of death was critical aortic valve stenosis, which is presumed to be associated with herbicide agent exposure. The Board found it likely that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in service and granted DIC benefits based on this presumption.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease and CAD, as the evidence did not show any current diagnosis of these conditions or that they were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not considered the principal or a contributory cause of his death. Therefore, his DIC claim based on the cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death, hypertensive heart disease, was found to be aggravated by his service-connected adjustment disorder. The Board granted the claim for service connection for cause of death.

Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, atrial fibrillation, aortic valve replacement, pacemaker installation, and digestive condition (Barrett’s syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)). Service connection is remanded for right hip condition, left hip condition, and colon cancer.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was reopened due to new and material evidence, and he is now granted total disability based on his service-connected disabilities.