Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service aboard the USS Boston during his time in Vietnam is considered sufficient exposure to qualify for presumptive service connection for arteriosclerotic coronary heart disease, which was listed as the cause of death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left ear hearing loss, stroke residuals, ischemic heart disease, and kidney disease as secondary to a heart disorder are denied. The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claim for peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of the lower extremities due to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left ear hearing loss, stroke residuals, ischemic heart disease, and kidney disease as secondary to a heart disorder are denied. The Board has also remanded his service connection claim for peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of the lower extremities due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, CAD, DM, and others, do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease has been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.,The Veteran's claims were reopened based on new evidence that relates to previously unestablished elements of the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, chest scar from coronary artery bypass graft, diabetes mellitus, type II, end-stage renal failure, hypertension, and neuropathy have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran’s chest scar as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for heart disability, hypertension, and arrhythmia due to unclear evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to an herbicide agent in Vietnam is conceded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for chest pains, including coronary artery disease and stable angina, as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities, prostate disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteopenia, cervical spine disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded as his prostatitis may be related to his current prostate disability. Additional development is needed regarding whether he has any residual disability from the prostatitis shown in service.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, chronic gastritis with GERD, and hemorrhoids are being remanded as his most recent examinations in August 2017 were inadequate. Additional development is needed to determine the current functional impairment resulting from these disabilities.,

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for a heart disability because he was satisfied with his current 100 percent disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and kidney disease, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions during the appeal period. The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any heart or kidney issues, and his post-service medical records also lacked relevant diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease has been rated at 60 percent since April 23, 2015. The rating is based on the workload of greater than 3 METs but not greater than five METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, and angina.

The Veteran's cause of death due to heart disease is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his service or any service-connected disabilities.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity neurological disorders, diabetes, micro-albuminuria, and heart disorder other than hypertension need further examination and opinion to determine their etiology. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for his coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The issue will be reconsidered with this additional information.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's stroke may be related to his service-connected ischemic heart disease, but an additional VA opinion is needed to clarify this relationship.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen claims for service connection for IHD and Type 2 diabetes mellitus are granted. The Board finds new and material evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, including evidence related to exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The claim for diabetes mellitus type II has been reopened and granted.,The claim for coronary artery disease has been reopened and granted.,The claim for hemorrhage from brain vessels (stroke) has been reopened and denied.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and denied.,The claim for erectile dysfunction has been reopened and denied.,The claim for bilateral arthritis of the feet has been reopened and denied.,The claim for bilateral arthritis of the hands has been reopened and denied.