Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's lung condition resulting from a VA procedure in April 2012 is not compensable under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and the cause of death due to heart failure does not meet service connection criteria.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for coronary artery disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's heart disorder and his service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and hypothyroidism has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, bronchitis, hypertension, and headaches have been remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's disability compensation benefits were reduced due to incarceration, and an overpayment was created. The appeal is granted as the overpayment was not the fault of the Veteran.

The Veteran's petition to reconsider the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, and other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remand are related to his elbow disabilities, ischemic heart disease with coronary bypass surgery, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The Board finds that these issues cannot be adjudicated until the right and left elbow disabilities are addressed due to their interrelated nature.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 60% for ischemic heart disease was denied from February 9, 2007 to February 20, 2008. The claim for a rating in excess of 30% was denied from February 21, 2008 to August 31, 2009. Finally, the claim for a rating in excess of 60% was denied from November 1, 2009 to May 15, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart disability, including ventricular tachycardia. The examiner should consider the lay statements of record and provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not related to military service, particularly herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has denied service connection for an eye disability and residuals of frostbite (left hand). The Veteran's left thumb condition and low back condition are remanded for further examination. Service connection for a heart condition is also remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) was denied, but a 100% rating was granted for three months following his myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hiatal hernia with GERD, coronary artery disease, PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantial gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, finding no current diagnosis of IHD and insufficient evidence to support presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for heart disease was granted. Claims for stomach condition, prostate cancer, and bilateral upper/lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were remanded. Migraine headaches and cold injury residuals to both feet were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable during the period from August 31, 2010 to February 27, 2013. The Board denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to missing military personnel records from his active duty period. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records, notify the Veteran if they cannot be obtained, and then readjudicate the cases.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions. The appeal is not about service connection at all, as it pertains to issues related to disability ratings and cause of death.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand during the Vietnam War.