Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The conditions are presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has found a duty to assist error and remands the case for further development regarding whether the Veteran was within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during his period of active service, as this could affect heart condition claims due to presumed exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's VA Form 9 was timely filed within 60 days of the attorney's actual receipt of the July 2015 Statements of the Case, and his appeal is reinstated. The underlying claims for both July 2015 SOCs are now considered.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's rheumatic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent since July 3, 2012. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition does not meet criteria for a separate compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and soft-tissue sarcoma due to in-service herbicide exposure, as it is unclear if he was exposed to these agents during his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hyperlipidemia, heart disability, diverticulitis, skin disability, skin cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and GERD are remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to herbicide agents and/or chemicals in service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from September 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016 due to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).,After the initial period of TDIU, the claim for TDIU on and after December 31, 2016 was dismissed as moot because he already had a 100% rating for CAD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertensive emergency and monocular blindness, claimed as IHD, and an increased disability rating for PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, skin cancer, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, right leg disorder, and left leg disorder. The issues of service connection for gallbladder disorder, bone loss disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure is granted. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his active duty service, thus granting presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, including as a result of herbicide exposure, was denied because there is no evidence showing he served in Vietnam or the Republic of Vietnam and his condition did not manifest during service. The Board found that the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange cannot be presumed due to lack of documented service in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination findings and discrepancies in the service medical records regarding the Veteran's heart disability. The claim will be reviewed with a new VA examination by a cardiologist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include heart disorder, headaches, neck disorder, and back disorder.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and rating issues related to the Veteran's disabilities. The appeals are being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability has been reopened, but the claim is denied. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and psychiatric disability are not rated higher than 30 percent. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea remains pending as it was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for coronary artery disease, as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea, due to uncertainty about its relationship to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for PTSD, hypertension, and heart condition are remanded for further development.