Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection for a back disability is granted, and he is also granted a 100 percent rating for CAD from June 19, 2017. The issues of ratings in excess of 30 percent for CAD prior to June 19, 2017, and PTSD are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for CAD was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 60% or higher rating under the old VA rating criteria prior to April 14, 1995.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of other disabilities due to herbicide exposure was received on May 31, 2006. The effective date of May 31, 2006, was assigned based on the fact that this was the date when the Veteran’s claim for service connection of other disabilities was received. This led to the receipt of the first medical evidence showing the Veteran with coronary artery disease.

The Veteran was granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), type II diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to prostate cancer, and residuals of a stroke secondary to type II diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for the cause of death is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disorder (claimed as ischemic heart disease) and hypertension due to in-service exposure to herbicides. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, tinnitus, cervical spine injury, lumbar spine condition, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, heart condition, prostate condition, left foot condition, right foot condition, and seizure disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for coronary artery disease from 60 to 30 percent, effective March 1, 2018, was proper based on sustained improvement in the disability as shown by VA and private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to CAD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cerebrovascular accident (CVA) as secondary to CAD was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and CAD have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 28, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents and his current heart condition. The Veteran is presumed exposed, but further examination is needed to determine if he has ischemic heart disease or a related nonischemic heart disease.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including upper and lower back disability, neck disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, bilateral eye disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Barrett's esophagus, coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysm, prostate cancer, and thyroid disability. The Board found no current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and scar, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU based on the evidence showing his unemployability due to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure was denied as his intent to file a claim was received more than one year after the liberalizing law that added ischemic heart disease to presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from January 11, 2008. The Board has remanded the issue of an increased rating for his left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease does not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his in-service herbicide-agent exposure. However, further examination and evidence are needed for premature ventricular contractions and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, both presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure while stationed in Thailand. Service connection was denied for skin cancer as the Veteran withdrew his appeal for this condition.