Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD is granted. For ischemic heart disease, a rating of 60% is granted effective October 19, 2017. The Veteran is also granted TDIU effective June 20, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder was reopened and granted. His claims for increased ratings were denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing it is related to military service. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure did not result in current hearing loss.,Service connection for heart condition (claimed as PVCs with arrhythmia) and lumbar spine condition are remanded because the VA examination conducted prior to the May 2018 rating decision on appeal was insufficient.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional verification of his exposure to herbicide agents in Korea.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 20 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as his appeal to restore the 60 percent rating for ischemic heart disease effective February 1, 2018.

The Veteran's death was attributed to coronary artery disease due to presumed herbicide exposure. The appellant seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection, but her claim is denied as she did not file a formal or informal claim prior to February 12, 2016.

The appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and ischemic heart disease, as well as TDIU were dismissed due to the claimant's death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a heart disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate disability, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability (including depression, PTSD, and anxiety), and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents or in-service stress.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Veteran's heart condition and hip disabilities are being remanded for further development to ensure a complete record is available, including VA treatment records and an addendum opinion on the cause of his heart condition. Additionally, new orthopedic examinations are needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected hip disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of May 16, 2016. The effective date for TDIU is set at this date.

The February 8, 2011 rating decision failed to grant a TDIU for the period from July 1, 2005 until February 21, 2010. The Board has now revised this decision to reflect a grant of TDIU during that period.

The reduction in rating for coronary artery disease from 60% to 10% was improper, and the 60% rating is restored.,Your entitlement to a higher disability rating for anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and the relationship between service-connected conditions and the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, coronary artery disease, right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMII), and various diabetic neuropathies, have rendered him unemployable due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disability, sleep problems/sleep apnea, and heart condition are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for several service connection claims, including those related to PTSD, hypertension, heart condition, back condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, bilateral feet peripheral neuropathy, and monoclonal gammopathy. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for clarification of medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin cancer, and ischemic heart disease. The claims are being remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's additional periods of service, which are necessary for a proper determination on his cause of death and any related service connection claims.