Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's death was caused by hepatitis, which is a service-connected condition. Therefore, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine prior to November 9, 2015; and in excess of 20 percent thereafter has been withdrawn.,New and material evidence having been received, the claims for service connection for heart disease (including as IHD, CAD, and myocardial infraction) and stomach or gastrointestinal condition (including Barrett’s Esophagus, gastroenteritis, and hiatal hernia) have been reopened.

The Veteran's disability rating of 100 percent for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is restored effective January 1, 2015. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for Actinic Keratosis due to a lack of VA examination and relevant medical records.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for prostate cancer and denied SMC at the housebound rate. The claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease was also denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease arose prior to August 18, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's coronary artery disease based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's diagnosed coronary artery disease, finding that it is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disability, including ischemic heart disease, due to presumed herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease or any other cardiovascular disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and cervical radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease as due to herbicide agent exposure, finding that there was no evidence of in-service herbicide exposure and insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between the condition and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including back condition, sinus condition, hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, Parkinson's disease with right upper extremity weakness, and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The Veteran needs a VA examination for his claimed bilateral hearing loss disability, and any outstanding flight manifests should be obtained.

The Board has denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for hypertensive cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease, left ankle disability, and cerebrovascular disease. The claims are currently rated based on their current manifestations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for dyslipidemia as it is a laboratory finding, not a disability. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to chemicals during service in Greece. The Veteran must be scheduled for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine if his current diabetes is related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, coronary atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus type II are granted. The claim for chronic diastolic heart failure is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus) are not of such severity that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, so his TDIU claim has been denied.

The Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities of PTSD, CAD, and tinnitus. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU have been met.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's heart disorder existed prior to service, if it underwent a permanent increase in severity during service, and if it is related to service or a congenital defect.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records. The matter will be reconsidered by the RO.