Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, so the Board dismissed both issues.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand is presumed and thus meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and retinopathy have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has not been granted for PTSD.

The Veteran's death was caused by a service-connected condition, rheumatic heart disease. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and also granted Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prolonged breathing problems, a heart condition, erectile dysfunction, foot fungus, and hearing loss of the left ear. The appeals are all denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension due to new research findings linking hypertension to herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident and initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the reopening of the hypertension claim. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disorder and head injuries, have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or direct causation. The Board found that the Veteran did not experience current residuals from acknowledged in-service head injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to its dependency on another claim, and also because it is related to a heart failure claim. The cause of death must be determined based on all evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected pulmonary fibrosis is found to be the primary cause of his sleep apnea and cardiovascular disorders, including atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and myocardial infarction. The lung transplant was also deemed secondary to the service-connected pulmonary fibrosis.

The Veteran's gout claim was denied, but service connection for anxiety disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and prostate cancer residuals were all granted.

The Veteran's 60% disability rating for ischemic heart disease is restored, and the claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for ischemic heart disease is set at August 31, 2010.

The Veteran's service connection claims for HPV infection, knee disorder, heel disorder, heart disorder, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development of her service records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for further development regarding potential herbicide exposure in the Philippines, which could affect service connection claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically ischemic heart disease and posttraumatic stress disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment since August 23, 2012. The Board has granted a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) as of that date.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation with ischemic heart disease was evaluated at a 60% disability rating from February 1 to June 21, 2011. The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 60 percent during this period due to the absence of evidence showing chronic congestive heart failure or LVEF below 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction were denied as the evidence did not establish a link to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 9, 2010 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction was dismissed as there is no freestanding claim for an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, respiratory disability, CTS, heart disability, fibromyalgia, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee disability. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's death was found to be caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, presumed related to his military service. The claim for DIC benefits is denied as no earlier claim was received prior to the October 2, 2014 submission.