Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected rheumatic fever and his current heart disease.

Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. An effective date earlier than January 31, 2015, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is remanded. Service connection for left eye ischemic optic neuropathy and hypertension are remanded. Service connection for peripheral vascular disease (bilateral lower and upper extremities) and kidney dysfunction are remanded. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded. Special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ is remanded.

The Board denied an effective date prior to July 27, 2005 for the award of service connection for CAD due to lack of a claim before that date.

The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD has significantly impacted his ability to work, with symptoms affecting most areas of his life.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary before final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and foot disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, heart disability, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), as well as whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen these claims are all remanded.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's cancers and IHD to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease (CAD) were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, bilateral lower extremity early onset peripheral neuropathy, and a heart condition due to herbicide agent exposure at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. The VA needs to verify the Veteran’s reported exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and TDIU due to the need for additional development, including a VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis did not meet the criteria due to lack of a causal relationship with his military service and failure to manifest within one year post-service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, bilateral shoulder and arm disorders, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus.,The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, heart condition (as secondary to hypertension), bilateral hearing loss, and dental treatment.

The Veteran's heart condition, including ischemic heart disease, is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis and the medical records do not support service connection due to lack of a nexus between his current condition and service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy. The appeal regarding prostate cancer and hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and consideration of his heart disability, including coronary artery disease. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the heart disability rating issue.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The Veteran died in March 2015 and was previously rated with coronary artery disease (30%) and prostate cancer (100%). Service connection is not available on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure, but the Board will consider whether it can be established on a direct basis.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the service connection of ischemic heart disease and surgical scar residuals, finding that the Veteran's claims were received on September 3, 2013, which is considered to be within one year of his separation from active duty. The decision also found in favor of the Veteran regarding the presumptive nature of the service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, residuals of a stroke, and psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) are denied.,The Veteran’s claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss is remanded due to the passage of time since the last examination.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and a heart disorder, finding no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial evaluations of his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records, clarification about CAD severity, and an examination to assess the impact of the condition on employment.