Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition (CAD) and hypertension, as well as his request for an increased rating for BPH with urinary tract infection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period since December 2, 2015 and up to June 6, 2018. However, the TDIU claim prior to this date was denied as there were no service-connected disabilities that prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's death was attributed to metastatic bladder cancer. The Board is remanding the case due to unclear character of service and incomplete records, particularly for the period from December 1958 to April 1960.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected. The Veteran's residuals of triple bypass surgery, including coronary artery disease, are denied as not being caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, finding that the Veteran's condition did not manifest during or within one year of separation from service and is not related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's right bundle branch block and associated coronary artery disease were not found to warrant a compensable rating from October 1, 1988 to March 19, 2003 or in excess of 10 percent from July 1, 2003 to March 22, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and left carotid artery stenosis status post stent placement resulted in a temporary total disability rating from October 31, 2012 to January 8, 2013. For the initial rating period of January 8, 2013 to June 26, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder due to additional evidentiary development.

The Veteran's blurred vision is not related to service, and his heart disorder, enlarged heart, was not shown in service. His sickle cell anemia, kidney disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder with neurobehavioral effects, transient ischemic attacks, headache disorder, heat exhaustion, chronic pain, leukemia, and bladder disorder are not presumed or otherwise linked to service.,The Veteran's current conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD, extensive small cell lung carcinoma, and hypertension. Service connection was denied for coronary artery disease and severe carotid stenosis with a history of cerebrovascular accident.

The claims for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's asthma. The issues of service connection for ischemic heart disease (IHD), chronic kidney disease with renal insufficiency (CKD), and asthma are being returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease has been rated at 30 percent since August 2010, and this rating is granted for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including adenocarcinoma, ischemic heart disease, thrombocytopenia, gout, actinic keratosis, and thyroid nodule. The appeal is also remanded to obtain VA treatment records from Jesse Brown VAMC and any other identified facilities.

The Board denied entitlement to nonservice-connected death pension benefits and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The Appellant's countable income exceeded the maximum annual income allowed for the payment of death pension benefits, and her statements did not establish that a service-connected disability caused or materially contributed to the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a liver condition is dismissed. The Veteran's eye disability and bilateral foot disability are granted, but the back and heart disabilities remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability of the left upper extremity was reopened and granted.,Other claims were remanded due to lack of complete application forms.,Service connection was restored for stress headaches, hypertension, valvular heart disease (mitral valve prolapse), iron deficiency anemia, allergic rhinitis, right shoulder sprain/strain, left shoulder sprain/strain, neck sprain and strain, right knee sprain/strain, left knee sprain/strain, right ankle sprain, right hallux valgus, left eye cortical cataract, acne, atrophic vaginitis, and OSA with CPAP.,The Veteran's service connection for fusion of the right fourth finger distal interphalangeal joint was denied as clearly erroneous.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was granted on April 25, 2014. The effective date of this grant is set at one year prior to the date of receipt of the fully developed claim (FDC), which was March 10, 2014. Therefore, the earliest possible effective date is April 25, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and the condition was not shown during service or within one year following discharge.