Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Board has decided to remand for further medical opinion regarding whether his PTSD contributed to his death or if his esophageal cancer was due to in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction secondary to coronary artery disease are remanded as additional evidence is needed. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disorders.

The Veteran did not have any pending claims for VA benefits at the time of his death, and there were no unpaid VA benefits. The Board found that accrued benefits cannot be granted because there was no claim for VA benefits pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to her military service. Specifically, there is a need for an addendum VA psychiatric opinion addressing whether she experienced harassment in service and if any acquired psychiatric disorder or heart condition are related to that experience.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease and unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, have been granted. The remaining issues are either denied or remanded.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for award of a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, CAD, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that these conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he is already receiving a 100% disability rating for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease, which includes SMC under Section 1114(s).

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, including coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, due to exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence did not show that the Veteran's conditions manifested in service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease prior to February 5, 2016 was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,A higher disability rating of 30 percent was granted for ischemic heart disease from February 5, 2016. However, this decision is also being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined as pulmonary fibrosis, with diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease listed as contributing causes. The appeal is denied because the conditions were not incurred during service or due to VA care.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied prior to January 30, 2015. From January 30, 2015, a 60 percent rating for CAD is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the heart disease claim is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for clarification regarding etiology. The hypertension, stroke residuals, and peripheral neuropathy claims are also remanded.

The application to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. Entitlement to service connection for adjustment disorder is also granted.

The Veteran's accrued VA benefits are being divided among his children due to a contested claim. The Board finds that all interested parties, including the adopted child J.K., should be provided with relevant documents and given an opportunity to respond before readjudicating the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria was denied, and his initial disability rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted at a 30 percent level. The CAD rating remains unchanged since November 2, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and heart disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is diagnosed with these conditions, but his service connection remains in dispute.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a disability manifested by chest wall pain, to include a heart disability, is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received and the claim may be reopened.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiac disorder and hypertensive heart disease, finding that there is no medical evidence supporting his contention that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, but the claim for PTSD remains pending and requires additional examination.