Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents. The VA examinations are inadequate as they do not address whether the conditions may be due to such exposure, and the opinions regarding hypertension must consider the most recent NAS findings.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are granted due to herbicide exposure. The claim for erectile dysfunction is remanded as it may be related to the service-connected diabetes. The special monthly compensation based on loss of use of creative organ is also remanded.

The Veteran's death was caused by arteriosclerotic heart disease with congestive heart failure, pneumonia of the right lung, diabetes mellitus, and COPD. The Board found that his service-connected psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria did not contribute to his cause of death, and that his other conditions were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that the Veteran did not have tinnitus during service or within one year thereafter.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as due to herbicide exposure, has also been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing the Veteran served in Vietnam and thus could not establish presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder remains pending and is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date and increased rating for coronary artery disease with stable angina is dismissed. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, incontinence, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of each extremity are remanded due to the need for verification regarding his exposure to herbicide agents during his time serving on a Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death is also remanded as it is intertwined with other issues.

The Board has denied service connection for anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, COPD, and ischemic heart disease as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension has been reopened, and the Board is remanding it to determine if service connection can be established.,The Veteran's claim for a heart disability secondary to his hypertension is also being remanded.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of hypertension and ischemic heart disease as secondary to hypertension. The effective date for both conditions is March 5, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the issues on appeal have become moot.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for CAD is denied. An effective date of June 20, 2012 for the grant of service connection for CAD is granted.,The issues related to thoracolumbar spine injury, arachnoiditis with residuals of upper and lower extremities are remanded due to their inextricable link to CUE claims and earlier effective date claims.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease precludes all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, thus the TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was hypertensive heart disease, which is presumed due to his service in Vietnam. The claim needs further examination by a VA specialist to determine if hypertension and atrial fibrillation are related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicide agents during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure during his time stationed at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension are currently rated as 30% and 10%, respectively. The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if higher ratings are warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are rated at 20 percent each, effective May 16, 2016.,The Veteran's left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy are rated at 30 percent each, effective August 4, 2016. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a heart disability (to include as secondary to service-connected varicose veins), and a rating in excess of 20 percent for varicose veins of the right leg. The TDIU claim is also remanded.