Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claims for various musculoskeletal conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, Parkinson’s disease, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, depression) have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and valvular heart disorder, finding that there is no evidence of ischemic heart disease and that diabetes mellitus did not cause or aggravate the valvular heart disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to a service connected disability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the heart disability claim due to a recent diagnosis of coronary artery disease, and requests an examination to determine if it is related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder were not found to be related to service or herbicide exposure.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, stroke blindness of the left eye, heart condition, artery and vein condition, hypertension, and Parkinson's disease, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for migraines and remanded the claims of diabetes mellitus and hypertensive heart disease due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current heart condition and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his CAD remains at 30 percent. The claims for higher ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, COPD, heart condition, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to incomplete records and potential exposure to environmental chemicals during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, specifically not obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran had renal toxicity or hepatic steatosis during his lifetime and if so, whether it caused or contributed to his death. The case is being returned for further action.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including hip, knee, ankle, back, groin pain, and heart disease, as they were not incurred in or due to the Veteran's time in service.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, diagnosed as atrial fibrillation, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, and coronary artery disease. The left knee disability is also granted based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition during active duty. Other disabilities are granted due to their direct relationship with the Veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiac disability, skin disability, and left leg disability due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of these conditions from VA examiners. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam is presumed.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease is not warranted, and has remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and sleep apnea, but denied service connection for hypertension and a skin disorder. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran had service in Vietnam and was exposed to herbicide agents, thus granting service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not impact his ability to perform sedentary employment, but additional development is needed to determine if he can perform any type of work.

The Veteran's service-connected surgical scarring from coronary artery bypass graft associated with arteriosclerotic heart disease is not manifested by a painful or unstable scar, and the rating assigned remains at zero percent.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.