Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure was not pending at the time of his death, and thus no accrued benefits are warranted.

Your initial claim for a higher rating for your service-connected coronary artery disease has been granted, and you are now receiving the highest disability rating available. Your appeal is dismissed as there is no remaining issue to address.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease has been reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the claims for peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities and a skin disorder due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the issues, specifically the service connection for gastritis. The VA must obtain all relevant records and readjudicate the claims.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, as the evidence did not show a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and a back disability have been reopened. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the relationship between current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his severe back pain and heart condition, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic hypertrophic sinusitis with complaint of headache and entitlement to service connection for heart condition with mitral valve prolapse due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The appeal for an increased rating for dysthymic disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) and Parkinson’s disease are granted as due to herbicide agent exposure for accrued benefits purposes.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded, as the evidence is unclear if he had diabetes mellitus, type II prior to death. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine this.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is also remanded and a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if it was related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, chloracne, heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, all claimed as a result of herbicide agent exposure. The decision found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and heart disease as due to exposure to herbicides, finding no credible evidence of such exposure during the Veteran's active service in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and he meets the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions that preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and a psychiatric disability have been reopened. The Board has found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and neuropathy, have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, prostate cancer, kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, and heart disability is granted. The claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection. The claims for prostate cancer and bilateral upper extremity vascular disorders are denied as there is no credible evidence to support the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service at Fort Gordon. CAD was granted 100% rating effective April 1, 2015, but the claim for a higher evaluation prior to that date remains pending. The claims for supraventricular arrhythmia and migraine headaches are denied. The Veteran's chronic otitis externa is not compensable. SMC at housebound rate was granted on April 1, 2015. TDIU was granted prior to December 29, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a bilateral foot, right leg, or left leg disability during his lifetime. The appellant's statements regarding these disabilities are not considered competent evidence as they do not demonstrate medical expertise.,The Veteran was diagnosed with CAD in 1999, which is more than 37 years after his discharge from service. There is no evidence linking the diagnosis to his service or any incident therein.