Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of both feet, finding that his paraplegia and loss of use of his lower extremities are not related to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right great toe degenerative changes are presumed to have been incurred in service. The Veteran is granted a rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease status-post myocardial infarction from July 3, 2013 to November 3, 2015.

The Veteran's heart disability prior to August 17, 2015 is not manifest by chronic congestive heart failure, more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure, a workload of 5 METs or less, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 50 percent or less. Therefore, the claim for an increased initial evaluation for ischemic heart disease status post bypass graft (CABG) with residual paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected coronary artery disease was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to April 14, 2004 and a rating in excess of 10 percent since August 1, 2004.

The Veteran's low back disability and skin disorder of the nose are remanded for further development.,The Veteran’s skin disorder of the nose is to be evaluated in relation to herbicide exposure. The examiner should consider the Veteran's reports of sun exposure and herbicide exposure during service.,VA will readjudicate the initial rating claim for coronary artery disease, with a focus on determining if a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and right knee condition are denied as they are not related to service.,Service connection is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for low back condition is not granted as the evidence does not show it began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for neck condition is not granted as there is no evidence showing a diagnosis prior to service.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease rating remains at 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II, all presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, but remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease (IHD)/coronary artery disease (CAD) and new and material evidence for diabetes mellitus as further research is needed regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the specific ratings and effective dates are not provided in this decision.

The Veteran's heart disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether they are related to service-connected conditions or due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The examiner will need to consider the theories of direct service connection, secondary service connection (to PTSD), and presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that her headaches did not meet the criteria for a 50% rating, and she was granted service connection for depression and an egg allergy. Service connection for TBI and heart disorder were also denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign prostate hypertrophy, CAD, anxiety disorder, right lower extremity varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, difficulty swallowing (residual of stroke), abnormal speech (residual of stroke), peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus has been denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy has also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his hypertension, which began in service, substantially contributed to his severe coronary artery disease and subsequent heart attack.

The Veteran's neck disability, heart disability (aortic dissection), and diabetes mellitus were denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease was granted an initial 100% rating prior to July 16, 2014. From July 16, 2014, the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, CAD, and diabetes) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).