Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and also requested additional information regarding his periods of active duty. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, pulmonary disability, heart disability, Parkinson’s disease, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeals regarding higher ratings for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Board found that the Veteran did not have herbicide exposure during service and his heart condition is not related to service, thus denying the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and coronary artery disease were not rated higher than the assigned levels from May 5, 2011 through December 31, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a heart disability (to include ischemic heart disease), hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence.,The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for any of these conditions as there is no credible evidence that they began during active duty or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various disabilities and whether new evidence supports reopening a claim. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease (CAD). The Board found that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric and orthopedic disabilities. Obesity was also considered an intermediate step in this causal chain.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was denied service connection as it is not related to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The Board found that the evidence did not support a direct link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hypertensive cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease with bypass and valve replacement has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew from appellate status.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure during service at a Thai military base. The Board found the Veteran was exposed to herbicides and granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's combined schedular disability ratings stemming from diabetes met the criteria for TDIU as of April 13, 2009. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU based on reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating and TDIU due to conflicting opinions regarding his PTSD symptoms and their impact on his ability to work. The VA is required to obtain updated medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of thyroid cancer or a thyroid condition was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeal for increased ratings on various foot disabilities, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and sebaceous cysts were all denied.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including an irregular heartbeat rhythm, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to her service.,Service connection for the chipped tooth and grayish appearance at the gum line around #12 is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to active duty. The Veteran was treated in Iraq after falling during an explosion but there is no evidence of any dental disorder related to this incident or any other periods of service.,The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for cervicalgia (head and neck pain) is remanded as the VA examination did not provide information on the frequency, severity, and duration of flare-ups.,Service connection for hernia is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking it to active duty. The Veteran had previously undergone surgery for a left hernia but there is no current evidence indicating its relationship to her service.,The claim for disability manifested by blood in urine is remanded as the VA examination did not provide an opinion on whether this condition exists and if so, whether it is related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disorder, and hypertension may be related to his military service in Southwest Asia. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to support this determination.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the May 2013 rating decision is remanded due to untimely filing of a VA Form 9. The issues are service connection for Schmidt's syndrome and assignment of a disability rating for ischemic CAD.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to ischemic heart disease, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure during active service and insufficient medical records to establish a present disability.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease and cardiomyopathy associated with hypertension are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds no basis to assign a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not necessitate the care or assistance of another person on a regular basis to attend to the activities of daily living, to protect him from the hazards or dangers of his daily environment, or to substantially confine him to his dwelling or immediate premises. Therefore, SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition and bladder cancer, finding that the conditions are not related to service or service-connected diabetes.