Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease, claimed as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence did not establish herbicide exposure and the Board found no direct or presumptive service connection.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and his heart disease. Further development is needed, including obtaining military personnel records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a left arm disability, low back disability, and heart disability (claimed as chest pain) secondary to her service-connected neuro-cardiogenic syndrome due to outstanding private and VA treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to verify his exposure to radiation during active duty in Germany and obtain private treatment records.

The Veteran's heart condition, diagnosed as coronary artery disease (CAD), was not shown to have manifested during service or within one year after separation. The Board found no causal relationship between the heart condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation due to issues with increased ratings for PTSD and CAD. No specific effective date was provided.

Service connection for hypertension is granted, and a 20 percent rating is assigned. The left eye third cranial nerve palsy is rated at 0 percent effective since April 2015. Multiple coronary artery bypass scars are rated at 20 percent due to pain and instability. Effective from August 31, 2011, the Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and needs to be verified. Additionally, a remand is required to obtain VA treatment records from 1982 to 1986 and to provide an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s lymphoma.

The Veteran's hearing loss and IHD are granted service connection, while COPD and NHL are denied. The Board also found that the evidence is in equipoise for service connection of hearing loss.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is due to herbicide exposure in service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease as a result of exposure to herbicide agents. However, it denied the claim due to lack of evidence of herbicide agent exposure during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, heart attack, heart disease, strokes, and cardiac bypass graft as there was no evidence of any of these conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment at Samaritan Regional Health on March 26, 2014 was approved as it met the criteria for reimbursement under the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act due to his service-connected PTSD and heart disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as incurred in service.,The TDIU termination was improper, and the RO restored it from December 16, 2008.

The Veteran's death is being remanded due to uncertainty about his service in the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam, which could affect his eligibility for presumptive service connection for Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of a previously denied claim were both denied. The effective date cannot be earlier than March 6, 2008 as the evidence first showed a currently diagnosed heart disability on that date.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as secondary to herbicide exposure. The heart disability and peripheral neuropathy claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance or permanent housebound status, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on these factors.