Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The issues include a non-PTSD psychiatric disorder, heart disorder, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records, including those from private physicians and VA hospitals. The Board will also schedule a VA examination to determine if hypertension is related to his service-connected IHD or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD) secondary to hypertension, and erectile dysfunction (ED) are all granted. The evidence supports the conclusion that these conditions began during service or are related to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for DM II, IHD, hypertension, ED, glaucoma, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other events that could establish presumptive service connection.,Secondary service connection was not granted as the primary conditions (DM II and IHD) were also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus due to exposure at Fort McClellan. The Veteran's assertions of herbicide agent exposure are being verified, and he will undergo VA examination.

The appeal of the denial of service connection for heart disease is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes) to include as due to herbicide exposure in service is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus with chronic kidney disease due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining medical opinions regarding potential environmental toxin exposures.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his right knee conditions, limitation of extension of the right knee, and instability of the right knee have been dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, left foot disability, atrial fibrillation (claimed as ischemic heart disease), and chronic liver condition are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease and PTSD, did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 18, 2016.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for both issues at the December 2018 hearing, and as a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has found that a compensable rating is not warranted for hypertension. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of hypertension and coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction and CABG (CAD) is remanded, as well as the claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was pending at the time of his death. The appellant, who is the Veteran's son, filed informal claims for accrued benefits but did not satisfy the legal requirements to receive such benefits due to lack of standing and failure to demonstrate expenses related to last sickness and burial.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence of a diagnosed chronic disability resulting from the claimed conditions.

Service connection for ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity has been granted due to herbicide exposure.,Hypertension and diabetic retinopathy have not yet been evaluated based on their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, prostate cancer, and skin cancer, all of which were claimed to be due to herbicide exposure.,The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims as there was no in-service diagnosis or treatment related to these conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings on several conditions, including heart disorder, scar, hallux limitus, left varicocele, and right foot tinea pedis. The Veteran withdrew his appeal as to these issues during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and coronary artery disease due to herbicide agent exposure. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for emphysema, COPD, and coronary artery disease have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any exposure during service.,Specifically, the VA examinations did not find a relationship between the Veteran’s current diagnoses and his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a recent Federal Circuit decision that expanded the scope of herbicide exposure for Vietnam veterans, and needs to review the Veteran's service records to determine if he was in the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam while stationed on or as a passenger on USS Kitty Hawk.