Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the severity of his Ischemic heart disease and its impact on employment, as well as for consideration of TDIU due to the intertwined issue with the IHD rating.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease effective January 31, 2019. The earliest date upon which VA was in constructive possession of evidence showing the Veteran’s conditions had manifested to a compensable degree is January 25, 1971.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and an earlier effective date for service connection for pancreatic cancer. The Veteran did not have ischemic heart disease or related disability that caused impairment in earning capacity during his claim period. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable under VA regulations. Service connection for IHD was denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability, and the Board found no relationship between DMII and pancreatic cancer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and a heart condition have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or etiological relationship to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and headaches have been remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, and ischemic heart disease. Service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and rating determinations due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a heart condition, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not show current diagnoses or establish that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for urethritis was denied. The rating for IVDS from August 15, 2007 to November 26, 2014 was granted at a 40 percent level. Other issues such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), erectile dysfunction, and SMC benefits were remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bone cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease are not considered to have begun during service or be related to any in-service injury or disease.,There is no evidence of a present diagnosis of liver cancer or kidney cancer prior to the Veteran's death.

The appeal regarding service connection for a heart disability is remanded due to unclear opinions on the etiology of the condition. The Veteran's heart disability may be related to service, but the evidence does not clearly establish this.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the Veteran's death.

The Board is remanding the cases for a determination on whether there has been an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work, which would justify reducing their disability ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to exposure during active duty.,Diabetes mellitus type II is service-connected as a result of herbicide exposure, while prostate cancer and heart condition are also connected through this presumption.

The Veteran is granted service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is remanded as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is remanded as related to exposure to herbicide agents and/or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's porphyria cutanea tarda is remanded as due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied retroactive VA compensation benefits for lung cancer and/or IHD under Nehmer v. United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, as well as an earlier effective date for DIC benefits due to lack of prior claims or denials.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 70 percent effective from January 5, 2012. The increased rating for ischemic heart disease prior to May 18, 2012 is denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, liver condition, vision condition, and acquired psychiatric condition as the evidence did not support a causal link to service or service-connected conditions.

Service connection is granted for a depressive disorder, but service connection is denied for hearing loss, glaucoma, heart disorders (claimed as high cholesterol), hypertension, ulcer disease and acid reflux.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and incontinence due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand and Vietnam. The conditions are presumed as they fall under the VA policy recognizing herbicide exposure at military bases like Don Muang RTAFB.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, as well as his SMC and TDIU claims, require further development due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.