Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic heart disease. The decision is based on direct evidence of a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed in-service stressor.,Service connection for a heart disorder was also denied as there is no evidence of such disability during or within one year after service.

The Board dismissed the claim for an effective date prior to November 20, 2014 for a 30 percent rating for service-connected CAD because it is considered duplicative of the issue already on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and residuals of a stroke, finding insufficient evidence to establish exposure to herbicide agents during service or that the conditions were caused by service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and heart disorder, including hypertensive heart disease, due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, numbness of the left leg, and numbness of the left foot due to a lack of timely filing of the Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional records review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The issues include right forearm post-surgery residuals, heart condition (including bypass surgery), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer, lung cancer, and heart disability. However, the claim of peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is remanded as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on this issue yet. The issues of SMC based on need for aid and attendance and at housebound rate are also remanded due to their inextricable link with the peripheral neuropathy claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for stroke residuals, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral diabetic retinopathy, kidney condition, upper and lower extremity neuropathy, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension has been granted. However, the claims for these conditions are not supported by evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for facial and lip lacerations was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for coronary artery disease status post heart attack is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum under applicable criteria.,Tinnitus remains at a 10 percent rating.,Bilateral hearing loss was initially noncompensable and now rated at 10 percent after January 14, 2019.,Low back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to October 28, 2015, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. Right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease was denied, but his TDIU claim was granted. The Veteran is rated at 60% for coronary artery disease and is considered unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed all appeals regarding increased disability ratings and service connection claims for various conditions, including PTSD, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, scar associated with CABG, unspecified depressive disorder, and cataracts. The Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records. The issues include neurological disorders, heart disorder, hypertension, headaches, and IVDS.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for valvular heart disease, effective September 1, 2013. The gallbladder disability is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's death was not due to any VA benefits he had, and there were no pending claims for VA benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, accrued benefits are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cerebral vascular accident (also claimed as stroke) included as secondary to coronary artery disease, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's entitlement to a disability rating of 100 percent for service-connected coronary artery disease, effective February 19, 2019 is granted. The matter of total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and coronary artery disease, are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability from November 9, 2010. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.