Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hemorrhoid disability is granted as service-connected. The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and remanded several issues related to his spine, knees, hearing loss, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, hypertension, varicocele, and epididymitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical records and for further examination. The Veteran's heart disorder is being considered based on new evidence, exposure to herbicide agents, and service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy and coronary artery disease. The Board finds that the evidence shows the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unemployable.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date than March 1, 2007, for the grant of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits based on the cause of the Veteran's death. The decision stated that the effective date was set to the first day of the month in which the Veteran died due to a covered herbicide disease.

The Board dismissed the appeals for right ear hearing loss and coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction, stents, and bypass surgery with history of congestive heart failure due to the death of the appellant.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of ischemic heart disease as it was granted in a prior decision. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent from June 12, 2017, and denied any rating higher than that. Diabetes mellitus remains rated at 20 percent. A TDIU claim has been raised.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and diabetes mellitus, are causing some impact on his ability to work. However, the VA examinations did not consider the combined effect of these conditions. A new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus type II, erectile dysfunction, and skin disability (chloracne), due to exposure to herbicide agents. The remand requires additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions and verifying the Veteran's exposure in Guam.

The Board has determined that there have been issues with obtaining the Veteran's service treatment records and these must be obtained again. The appeal is being remanded to ensure all necessary efforts are made to secure these records.

The Board has granted service connection for an ulcer disability. The issues of service connection for the remaining conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart disability has been dismissed because his service-connected heart disability renders moot any separate compensation under that section.

The appeal for service connection of a heart disability is dismissed. The issues of higher rating for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's effective date for child dependency benefits is denied as the claim was not submitted within one year of notification of his qualifying disability rating award.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link between the Veteran's current condition and his in-service exposure to toxic substances at MCAS El Toro.,The Board also denied service connection for heart condition, concluding that the preponderance of evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his in-service exposure to contaminated groundwater.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on several conditions due to his withdrawal of those claims at a hearing.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was shown as chronic after service and is not attributable to intercurrent causes. Service connection for ischemic heart disease, to include as due to herbicide exposure, for retroactive benefits under Nehmer, is granted.

Service connection is granted for coronary artery disease. Service connection is remanded for a back condition.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 27, 2015 and a disability rating of 60 percent from November 27, 2015.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for death pension benefits is denied due to her income exceeding the maximum annual rate. The appeal for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is remanded and requires a medical opinion.