Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is rated at 10 percent prior to February 10, 2011 and 60 percent from February 10, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected stroke residuals and for TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating beyond 10 percent, as there were no ascertainable residuals to warrant such a rating. For TDIU, the Veteran's disabilities were rated at 80% combined, meeting the threshold requirements, but his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer are granted service connection based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Thailand.,His cause of death, which was due to coronary artery disease (CAD), is also considered service-connected.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected conditions, finding that the Veteran's disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 7, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, concluding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of rheumatic fever, finding no evidence of current disability related to service. The claim was reopened and the issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease is now remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease remains pending as a new theory of causation has been presented (exposure to jet fuel), but further development is needed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease related to herbicide exposure is granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, a kidney condition, a breathing condition, a heart disability, hypertension and seizures as he withdrew his appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure to herbicides and the possibility of a temporary duty assignment in Vietnam.

Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II is granted. The claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is remanded.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of claim.,Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The cause of death (cardiac arrhythmia with sudden death hypertensive cardiovascular disease) is attributed to service-connected coronary artery disease.,The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for GERD. The claims for BHL, cholecystitis, chronic, DM, lumbar disability (secondary to left knee disability), heart disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, and right knee disability are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, right hand disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, erectile dysfunction, sleep-related disability (presumed to be sleep apnea), acquired psychiatric disability, heart disability, residuals of a stroke, hypertension, hiatal hernia, and gastrointestinal disability. The remand requires additional development including obtaining federal records from the Social Security Administration, scheduling an examination for the low back disability, and determining the nature and etiology of hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the VA did not adequately verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while stationed at Takhli RTAFB, and thus remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on remand and for earlier effective dates are pending. The appeal of the initial rating for coronary artery disease is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a heart disability were denied, as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The cause of death was also denied because there was no evidence linking any diagnosed disabilities to his period of service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease as a result of herbicide exposure is granted. The claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, alcohol dependence, diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, peripheral neuropathies, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertensive heart disease, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of December 24, 2011.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are granted service connection. However, the Board has remanded for further examination regarding hypertension and erectile dysfunction as they may be secondary to his service-connected conditions.