Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or intent to apply for benefits related to a heart disability before February 24, 2011. The Veteran served in Thailand and not Vietnam, thus he is not considered a 'Nehmer class member'.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no service connection decision could be made.

The Veteran's rhabdomyosarcoma and ischemic heart disease are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically his peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy, and fragment wounds. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to attend a VA examination.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, prior to April 24, 2019, is rated at 30 percent and denied a higher rating.,Squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer) was not manifested during service or within one year of service, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's skin cancer is related to an event, injury, or disease in service, to include as due to his presumed herbicide exposure in service.,The Veteran’s sleep apnea is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the condition increased in severity within one year prior to September 28, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The remaining claims of service connection for a heart condition, hypertension, and kidney cancer are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at a noncompensable rating prior to August 27, 2014, and at a 30 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran’s CAD is rated at a 60 percent rating prior to October 30, 2014.,The Veteran's low back disability is rated at a 20 percent rating from August 27, 2014 onwards. The Veteran's left ankle and right foot disabilities are each rated at a 10 percent rating.,TDIU was dismissed as the Veteran has been granted a combined 100 percent rating for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating effective October 10, 2018. Effective December 27, 2010, the Veteran also receives SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were sufficient to produce unemployability for the period from October 2, 2015, through March 14, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a DRO conference.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial increased disability rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) with myocardial infarction and percutaneous coronary intervention prior to January 25, 2019, was granted at a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, as well as his claim for a TDIU prior to January 8, 2018. The VA will need to schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected cardiac disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service in Thailand, where he was stationed at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base and had duties near its perimeter, exposed him to herbicides. Given his current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, the Board finds it is at least as likely as not that this exposure contributed to his condition, thus granting service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding his convalescence period from surgery and lack of information on his employment history.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and supraventricular arrhythmia, both granted in January 2017. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine when these conditions manifested.,An earlier effective date is also sought for the Veteran's service connection for supraventricular arrhythmia. However, a Statement of the Case (SOC) was not issued addressing this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for TCE blood contamination and remanded the claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for liver disability, as well as service connection for a liver disability and heart disability due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.