Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hypertension and hypertensive heart disease are not rated as compensable, despite the need for medication to control blood pressure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to conflicting diagnoses of his heart disorder, including ischemic heart disease (IHD) and congestive heart failure. The case is being returned for a medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a cardiac disorder (including ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation), a respiratory condition (dyspnea), and bilateral-eye disorders (diabetic retinopathy, partial blindness, glaucoma, cataracts) due to diabetes. The Board also denied service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the right-lower extremity.,The Board found that there was no evidence linking hypertension or a cardiac disorder to service or service-connected conditions and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for muscle damage, left knee; left foot drop; MRSA infection; CIDP; pulmonary edema; heart disability (to include congestive heart failure); renal failure; and compromised immune system are all granted. The claim for service connection for a heart disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and coronary artery disease due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected vascular headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease. The claims for bladder cancer, thyroid condition, and soft tissue sarcoma are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and residuals of prostate cancer were granted with effective dates of January 30, 2014, and June 20, 2016 respectively. The grants are based on new evidence submitted after the original denial in August 2015.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and PTSD have been remanded for further evaluation.,His diabetes has worsened, requiring insulin treatment and a restricted diet.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional records and schedule examinations for the Veteran's shin splints, coronary artery disease, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate development.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 100 percent for service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) with congestive heart failure from May 9, 1996 to March 20, 2002.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and bypass surgery are rated at 60 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, hypertension, lymph node disability, and diabetes mellitus type II as the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a heart disorder and its relationship to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's service treatment records show some cardiac abnormalities, but further examination is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied, while his claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) and esophageal cancer due to herbicide exposure are being remanded.

The Veteran's death was caused by coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, which the Board found not related to his military service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims to reopen for entitlement to service connection for a heart murmur (now claimed as a heart condition) and a left ankle disorder are granted. The Veteran is denied service connection for vertigo, bilateral knee disorder, sleep apnea, chronic athlete’s foot, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and ischemic heart disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 21, 2011. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU effective from July 21, 2011 to July 8, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and issues with a previous VA examination. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease rating is being reviewed for further development.