Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for essential tremor, claimed as Parkinson's disease, is granted. The appeals for peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, PTSD, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a new examination of his ischemic heart disease and an assessment of his current functional capacity.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and right foot disabilities are remanded for further development. The Veteran's heart disorder, hypertension, and Parkinson's disease claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The Board found no new and material evidence.,Service connection for a sleep disability is denied as there is no evidence showing the Veteran has such a disability during his active duty or related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder disability and remanded the claims for heart condition, carotid artery condition, kidney condition, bladder condition, pelvic disability, right buttock disability, and neck disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted as it was presumed due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, liver disease, erectile dysfunction, kidney disease, and pigmentation scar on the head. The claim for prostate cancer was reopened based on new evidence, but it was still denied as there is no direct or presumptive link to service.,Service connection for coronary artery disease, liver disease, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disease were also denied due to lack of in-service diagnosis or chronicity.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. Service connection was denied for ischemic heart disease due to a lack of in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities, and he does not qualify for specially adapted housing or home adaptation grants.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's CAD claim for an initial rating in excess of 10% from December 11, 2014 is also denied due to lack of evidence showing a workload of greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea or fatigue.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection. The effective date for this grant is March 31, 2014.,Service connection for CAD and diabetes mellitus is denied as the earliest evidence of these conditions was received after March 31, 2014.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted service connection. The effective date for CAD and diabetes mellitus remains March 31, 2014.,Right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and cerebral infarction (stroke) are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, depressive disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, are found to be severe enough to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. As a result, his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and posttraumatic stress disorder do not render him unemployable, as he has a high school education and over 40 years of work experience that allows for full-time employment in desk-based or minimal physical exertion roles.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a right leg disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, bilateral lung disorder, throat cancer, liver disorder, and bladder disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined with whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and right inguinal hernia have been granted service connection. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has also been granted.,Service connection for bicuspid aortic valve is denied as it was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.