Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, psychiatric condition, and kidney condition as the evidence does not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Korea.

Service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation, as secondary to his diabetes disability, is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease with atrial fibrillation is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service at the Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

Service connection is granted for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities due to exposure to herbicides.,Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The cause of death is also under consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II due to a lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Board found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand or Vietnam.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of May 31, 2012. The Board affirms the earlier effective date for TDIU to May 31, 2012 based on the evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevent him from maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disability.,Service connection for an anxiety disorder is granted as it is related to the Veteran’s service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and left lower extremity is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.,Service connection for a heart condition is denied as there is no evidence linking the disability to service.,The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability remains at 20% since August 9, 2017.

The Board is remanding the TDIU claim due to pending reductions and discontinuance of benefits for lung cancer and SMC. The Veteran's CAD-related hospitalization records are requested.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially to his death, and the heart disability he was seeking benefits for is determined to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants both claims.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 18, 2014 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure. The evidence shows that the Veteran was likely afflicted with arteriosclerotic heart disease prior to August 31, 2010 and finally received diagnoses of coronary artery disease and arteriosclerotic heart sometime in 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was rated at 60 percent for the period before November 8, 2018 and granted a 100 percent rating from that date. The Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to November 8, 2018.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board will seek a definitive opinion regarding the etiology of his hypertension, including whether it is related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disability and its relationship to service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's death was due to service-connected conditions, but the appellant is entitled to a $300 burial allowance and a month of death benefits for his mother as he is the adult son of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a lung condition.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee condition as secondary to residuals, fracture or calcis right foot.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for COPD related to asbestos exposure and Coronary Artery Disease as secondary to COPD.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during service aboard the U.S.S. Klondike, and as a result, the claim of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange is being remanded.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke. However, these claims are remanded to obtain verification of the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents in Guam and to provide an examination to determine if his conditions are related to this exposure.