Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,Specifically, the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and wrist disabilities, heart disability, severe headache disability, PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder are being reviewed.

The Veteran's current 30% rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is insufficient, and a new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung disorder, coronary artery disease, liver disorder, and psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for left leg tumor with scar, heart condition, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for left arm pain has been denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The service connection for ischemic heart disease is remanded as the issue involves a possible presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied higher initial ratings for the Veteran's service-connected Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) and has remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to August 12, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, both presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active service in Thailand. The cause of death is also considered due to service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's asbestosis is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for asbestosis, as aggravated by CAD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The claims for malignant melanoma and stroke are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for CAD and PTSD, as well as a TDIU determination, were denied. The rating for CAD was not granted above 30 percent prior to May 15, 2015, due to the severity of his symptoms. The rating for PTSD was also not granted above 50 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, CAD, and peripheral neuropathy) made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 30, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate notification of VA examinations for heart disability, skin condition, and sleep disorder. The Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions are now pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, pulmonary disorder, coronary artery disease, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, chronic eye disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. The right elbow disorder claim is also remanded.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of August 5, 2014 for service connection and a disability rating for right shoulder arthritis, scar status post-surgical repair right shoulder, and post-surgical residuals right shoulder. The claims were denied for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, left shoulder disorder, lung disorder, thyroid disorder, and headache disorder (secondary to service-connected disability).,The effective dates of August 5, 2014 are granted for the grants of service connection and a disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent and total disability that precludes locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing are met.

The Veteran's ED is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected CAD and any other relevant conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for damage to the right cranial nerve V3 and coronary artery disease, status post stenting due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need further evaluations to determine his current disability levels.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA records. The TDIU claim will be addressed after the examinations are completed.

The Board has remanded three claims: ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The claims are related as they all involve service connection for conditions associated with diabetes mellitus. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.