Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's exposure claims. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify any exposure to radiation, toxic contamination, pesticides, and herbicides that the Veteran may have had during his service, including exposure from artillery.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and DIC are inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD for accrued benefits or substitution purposes. The matter is therefore REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for arthritis of all other joints, allergies to sulfa and medications, respiratory disorder (claimed as asthma and bronchitis), skin disorder, hemorrhoids, heart disorder, prostate disorder, and disability claimed as muscle aches, pains and spasms have been dismissed. The Veteran has service connection granted for depressive disorder and IBS/GERD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypersomnia with sleep apnea, a heart disability, impotence of organic origin, acne, and type II diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset during service or were related to service.,The Board also found that there was no exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) during the Veteran's service at Goose Bay Air Force Base in Canada.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service in Thailand and Vietnam, which allows for presumptive service connection of ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for anemia, coronary artery disease and high blood pressure as secondary to anemia due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's anemia.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 5, 2017. His service-connected disabilities are deemed sufficient for a TDIU.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected as the Board found no evidence that his heart disease or cerebral vascular accident had its onset during service, within one year of discharge, or was otherwise related to service. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and acquired psychiatric disorder were all denied service connection. The Board found that the current conditions did not manifest during or are otherwise related to active service.,The Veteran was unable to establish a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death may be related to military service, but needs further evidence to confirm if he served in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected back and heart disorders are being remanded due to outstanding medical records. She is seeking earlier effective dates for the 20 and 30 percent disability ratings.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claims of higher rating for pulmonary defect and heart disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of Vietnam service or herbicide exposure.

The claim for service connection for ED has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of consideration of certain theories.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam-era Navy service.

The Veteran's cause of death, atherosclerotic heart disease, was not caused or contributed to by service-connected disability. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure to herbicide agents while serving on TDY in Guam. The AOJ needs to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure and obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between such exposure and his conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability does not meet the criteria for a 100% rating, and thus denied restoration of the 100% rating.

The Veteran's IHD resulted in exercise tolerance limited to 3-5 METs, dyspnea, fatigue, and dizziness. The Board found the Veteran is entitled to a 60 percent rating for his IHD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disease and PTSD due to Agent Orange exposure. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service, including herbicide exposure.