Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding possible exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals, as well as for obtaining service personnel records.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to January 7, 2015 was denied. For the period from January 7, 2015 onwards, his CAD was rated at 60 percent and this rating is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease as there is no current disability to relate to his service.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's heart disability and hypertension are related to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's IHD is currently rated at 30 percent, and there is no evidence to warrant an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's IHD rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 26, 2014.,The Veteran is granted TDIU beginning November 26, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current heart condition and his active military service or service-connected anxiety with depression.

The Board dismissed the claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and gout due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, heart disorders, kidney disorders, and right eye disorders as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a self-inflicted stab wound to the abdomen and heart disability resulting from a heart murmur are denied as there is no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no current diagnosis of a heart murmur, nor any indication that it was present during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The Veteran's alleged exposure is at Takhli Air Force Base in Thailand and U-Tapao Air Force Base in Thailand, as well as CCK Air Base in Taiwan.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 26, 2012. The Board has remanded the case for referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU.

The Board has granted reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for tinnitus and a lumbar spine disorder. Service connection is also granted for tinnitus, but denied for heart disorder, headache disorder, residuals of head injury, right leg disorder (excluding sciatica), obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 19, 2013 is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for coronary artery disease has been dismissed.,Service connection was granted for PTSD and TMJ dysfunction, with the former being related to a motor vehicle accident in service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision did not address the issue of effective dates.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound, as his dementia was the primary cause of his limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's heart disability is related to his active service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes.