Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) due to new and material evidence. However, CAD is not found to be related to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions require the need for regular aid and attendance, which is granted as special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and CAD rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment as of December 13, 2012. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for liver disability, heart disability, and cataracts due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine to include claim for spinal stenosis spondylosis was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The issue of service connection for a heart condition (claimed as hypertension and cardiovascular disease) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of head injury has been denied by the Board. The disability is currently rated as zero percent, and the evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a failure of duty to assist, specifically requesting additional records from the U.S. Army and Joint Records Research Center (JRSSC) regarding the Veteran's service in Takhli RTAFB.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of a higher evaluation for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's initial claim for a disability evaluation of 30 percent for coronary artery disease with old myocardial infarction was granted. The appeal for an increased rating beyond this level is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty service at Fort A.P. Hill and thus meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service in Thailand and granted his claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease as a result of this exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a new VA examination to determine if any diagnosed heart conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and ischemic heart disease have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of an effective date earlier than March 28, 2013 for bilateral hearing loss, as well as the issues regarding initial compensable ratings prior to March 25, 2019 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date for bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains on appeal due to the RO assigning an effective date of March 28, 2013, which is one year prior to his submission of the FDC application. The Board found no evidence supporting a higher effective date.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, sleep apnea, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastrointestinal disability, and hypertension disabilities have been denied. The claim of service connection for a heart disability has been reopened but remains denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease was denied prior to April 8, 2015.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 8, 2015 was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disorder, psychiatric disorder, heart disorder, lumbar spine disorder, shoulder disorder, and sleep apnea, were denied as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, including CAD, and diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide agent exposure. The back condition claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service. The issues include splenomegaly, respiratory condition (including COPD and sarcoidosis), heart condition, diabetes mellitus, and small bladder blockage.

The appeals for service connection of coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and lung cancer have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not create an inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period of June 22, 2016 through June 26, 2017.