Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board denied the veteran's claim for aid and attendance or housebound benefits as her surviving spouse, finding that she is not in need of regular aid and assistance from another person due to her medical conditions.

The Veteran's headaches, heart condition, and memory loss were not found to be related to service.,Fibromyalgia was diagnosed in September 2018 but its etiology remains unclear.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to unclear medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure and no direct link between the Veteran's condition and his military service.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 7, 2009 and denied entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation or meet the criteria for SMC due to the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was denied as his symptoms are part of his PTSD.,His initial disability rating for ischemic heart disease was also denied, as the evidence did not show a workload greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea or fatigue.

The Veteran's claim for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, insomnia with anger issues, sleep apnea, and gall bladder surgery has been denied. The claims for stiffness and slowness of movement and tremors (previously claimed as Parkinson’s disease) are remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claims have resulted in mixed decisions: some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in a total combined evaluation of 100 percent, qualifying him for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). However, the evidence does not support an increase to the higher rate due to need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection, including those for bilateral shoulder disability and left knee disability. The heart disability claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 4, 2008 for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease. The decision is based on medical evidence indicating that the condition first manifested on this date.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, Type II on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during active service in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 19, 2011 due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence showed that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his back and heart conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's hypertension, which was present during his honorable period of service from March 1, 1974 to March 2, 1979, contributed substantially or materially to death and caused or aggravated his fatal heart and lung diseases.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia, weakened immune system, staph infections, and heart condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's heart condition, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The right hip disability, shin splints of the left leg, and shin splints of the right leg are not considered service-connected. An initial compensable rating was also denied for trauma-induced onychauxis with onychomycosis of the left great toe.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 100 percent disabling since November 12, 2001. The Board grants a 100 percent rating for the entire appeal period and SMC based on housebound rate from December 5, 2012. TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which is claimed to be secondary to his heart condition, has been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the Veteran’s sleep apnea and his heart condition. Additionally, the Veteran was granted TDIU benefits due to his service-connected heart condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II was denied. The Veteran's PTSD with dysthymia received an initial disability rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his active military service.,For the right knee and heart disabilities, the Board found insufficient evidence to determine their relationship to service and remanded for further examination.