Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The remaining issues of peripheral neuropathy and erectile dysfunction are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the appellant's sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and respiratory disability. The claims are currently in a state where further evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorder (supraventricular arrythmia) and respiratory disorder (bronchial asthma) are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's back disability, neck disability, and heart condition are etiologically linked to active duty service. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart disability, including cardiomyopathy and CAD. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, a heart condition, gastrointestinal disability (hiatal hernia/GERD), and a right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to need the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination reports and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's heart disorder is claimed as due to exposure to herbicides while stationed in Korea. The Board finds that further development is necessary to determine whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents, and a VA examination is needed if not found.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as he has experience in a sedentary occupation like customer service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's heart disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder claims need to be remanded for further clarification of diagnoses and additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disability due to Agent Orange exposure and granted a TDIU rating. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disability, but the Veteran was found unemployable due to his multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to potential exposure in the territorial waters of Vietnam while serving aboard the USS Yorktown. The RO must verify this information with the JSRRC.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance was due to his diagnosed Alzheimer's disease, which is not a service-connected disability. The Board finds that SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person is not warranted.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have resulted from his in-service herbicide exposure, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The claims for service connection of tuberculosis, heart disease, left and right knee conditions, and headache condition have been denied.,Claims for increased evaluations of tinnitus and earlier effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and hearing loss have also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes was dismissed as the claims were not pending at the time of his death.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for coronary artery disease and type II diabetes was also dismissed because the appeals were untimely filed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The case is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of her migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including skin disorders of the feet and neurological disorders of various extremities. The effective dates for granting service connection have not been established due to lack of prior claims. Increased ratings are also requested for heart disability and diabetes.