Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a heart disability and left foot disability due to inconsistencies in medical records and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for heart disorders, diabetes mellitus type II, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of veteran status prior to March 6, 1970.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issues of service connection for a low back condition, right foot/ankle condition, left foot/ankle condition, and chest/heart condition.

The Board dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for increased PTSD rating and service connection for a heart disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a supplemental VA medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate disorder, heart condition (claimed as secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease and/or exposure to toxic herbicides), and peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to asbestos and herbicide agents while serving on the U.S.S. Puget Sound.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, residuals of abdominal surgery, and high cholesterol as there was no evidence to support an in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is rated at a 60 percent disability rating from December 23, 2011. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Code 7005 have not been met or more nearly approximated.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in the Korean DMZ, which is necessary to determine if he was exposed to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis (claimed as ischemic heart disease), and restless leg syndrome due to potential errors in the previous determinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability and Alzheimer's dementia are related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure, which could affect his claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination report and a need for a new heart condition evaluation, including both an exercise stress test and an interview-based METs test.

The Board has remanded the earlier effective date claims for all service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathies, and chronic ischemic heart disease. The appeal is related to the timing of when these conditions were granted as service connected.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and the Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 was denied due to lack of a continuous period of at least ten years of total disability rating prior to death. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was also denied as the evidence did not establish that VA's care caused the Veteran’s death.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and obtaining missing service records, as well as Social Security Administration disability benefits records.

The Board found that the reduction in disability rating for service-connected heart condition from 60% to 10% was improper and restored the 60% rating. The claim for a compensable rating for hypertension was denied.

The Board has found the preponderance of evidence against a finding that the Veteran has a current heart disability, bilateral hearing loss, or diabetic edema. The claims for these conditions are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and development.