Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and heart disease, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or a relationship between the conditions and service.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for epidermoid cysts and granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The decision is final as it was not appealed further.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a heart condition, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure, have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Base.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, effective June 1, 2016. The evidence shows that the Veteran experiences dyspnea, fatigue, and angina with exertion but does not have congestive heart failure or left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 50%. The Board found his disability picture to be best fit for a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and chronic headaches, including migraine headaches. The decision states that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a mental health disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service service.,The Veteran's cervical strain was rated at 10% since the onset of the claim period, with no higher rating warranted due to limited motion and painful movement.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and extraschedular consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.,The VA is required to verify the Veteran's claimed exposures at Fort McClellan and Fort Benning in locations other than Vietnam, enumerated Royal Thai Air Force Bases, or the Korean demilitarized zone.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's June 2017 Notice of Disagreement was timely filed and is now remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case on the merits.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The appeal for non-service-connected death pension benefits is dismissed as moot because DIC benefits have been awarded.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection of CAD, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD was received on March 26, 2012. The effective date for the increased evaluation of 60 percent for CAD from March 26, 2011 to June 12, 2013 is denied. An earlier effective date for service connection of CAD prior to March 26, 2011 and diabetes mellitus, type II prior to March 26, 2012 are also denied due to the Veteran's failure to meet eligibility criteria under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disability, left and right knee disabilities, and duodenal ulcer do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), residuals of throat cancer, a heart disability, a respiratory disability, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.,The Board also granted one issue - the remand on service connection for residuals of throat cancer.

The Board has remanded the claim for ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure, requesting additional verification of whether herbicide agents were stored and incinerated at the Gulfport Navy Base during the Veteran's service.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claim for a heart disability and denied the claims for GERD and hypertension. The case is remanded for further development regarding the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lung disability, heart disability, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea (secondary to a service connected condition), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The remand requires further development related to in-service exposure to chemicals and/or herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) status post MI with stenting, finding that the earliest possible effective date was November 5, 2013.