Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim to reopen the service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted. The claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no current diagnosis of a disability related to his active duty service. The evidence did not establish an in-service injury or disease, and the disabilities found are not shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing records and to clarify whether the Veteran served in Southwest Asia. The issues of reopening the cervical spasm and back condition claims are deferred until all missing records have been obtained.

The Veteran was diagnosed with heart disease, including myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, which is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam. The claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.,Service connection for GERD and a gastrointestinal disorder other than GERD are denied. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with these conditions, nor can they be linked to his service or a service-connected condition.,Coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease are granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as sudden cardiac death due to hypertensive heart disease. The Board finds that a remand is required to address whether the Veteran’s fatal hypertensive heart disease may be related to his presumed in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives regarding obtaining medical records for ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarctions, and coronary artery disease. The appellant is asked to provide any relevant private treatment records and a VA cardiologist will be requested to review the claims file and provide an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease and diabetes mellitus type 2 due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between these conditions and exposure to toxic chemicals while serving on naval vessels. Additional medical examination is required.

The Board has vacated the November 2018 decision, finding that new evidence was not considered. The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure are denied as there is no credible evidence of actual exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability, claimed as COPD and including exposure to chemical contaminants. Service connection for IHD is also granted due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Board has granted service connection for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, and Coronary Artery Disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The Veteran's CAD, status post CABG, is currently rated at 60 percent and the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's residual surgical scarring associated with CAD status post CABG has been rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's hypertension has required continuous management by medications but has never met the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on pure tone threshold average or speech discrimination rate.,The Veteran's chronic atrial fibrillation has been rated at 30 percent and factors warranting extraschedular consideration are neither shown nor alleged.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The effective dates for the establishment of service connection for pes planus, right-hand tingling and numbness, left-hand tingling and numbness, chronic otitis externa, and GERD have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to herbicide exposure is granted. The claim for an increased rating for kyphosis with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, and a surgical scar associated with Crohn's Disease is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding lung disease due to a withdrawal by the Veteran. The heart disease claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right and left leg disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertensive vascular disease.,His coronary artery disease and stable angina are granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure, with no current evidence of intercurrent causes.,His erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertensive vascular disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a blood disease, coronary artery disease with stent, and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran is granted an initial disability evaluation of 30 percent for coronary artery disease with stent.,An effective date prior to April 21, 2013 for the grant of service connection of coronary artery disease with stent and bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease status post coronary bypass graft, given changes in LVEF readings and subjective complaints.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including respiratory condition, rhinitis, sleep apnea, heart condition (slow pulse and pacemaker), and scrotum condition, have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder, but the issues of lung and joint swelling are remanded due to insufficient evidence.