Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claims for tinnitus, heart disability, hypertension, and prostate cancer are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, right ear hearing loss, and traumatic brain injury were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions.,For the right ear hearing loss, the Veteran was not granted an increased rating as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's bladder cancer is not linked to any incident of active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete VA examination and the need for updated evidence regarding his current employment status and disability severity.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, and prostate cancer residuals have been dismissed. The issues of increased rating for anxiety disorder and total disability rating due to individual unemployability are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's CAD is rated at 60 percent since January 1, 2016. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise regarding whether his CAD resulted in symptoms that more nearly approximated a 100 percent rating during the period from June 25, 2015 to August 22, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including arthritis of multiple joints, diverticulitis, gallbladder removal, hemorrhoid removal, hypertension, heart disability, lung disability, polyp removal, and gastrointestinal disability, all claimed to be due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The evidence did not support a link between these disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and coronary artery bypass grafting was rated at 10 percent prior to November 30, 2017. After the remand, a higher rating of 60 percent was granted effective from November 30, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied, but a TDIU is granted throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran is seeking reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his private hospitalization at OSU Wexler Medical Center from July 9th-10th of 2013. The VA denied the claim, stating that VA facilities were feasibly available and the Veteran requested transfer to a private facility. The Board finds additional development is required.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II, due to the need to verify the ship's location during the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, kidney condition, and heart condition have been granted. The Board found that the current presence of these conditions is related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand triggers a presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's right hip condition is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for the heart condition is denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis and failure to establish a link between the current condition and service or a service-connected disability.,Bilateral leg numbness is not linked to service, and thus service connection is denied.,The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder has been granted an increased rating to 70% effective February 6, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability claim should be remanded for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his PTSD and heart condition, as well as whether his current heart disability is caused or aggravated by surgeries related to his left knee disability.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, Type II, heart disorder, Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer. Service connection remains denied for the other conditions.