Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's disability ratings for Coronary Artery Disease and Bilateral Hearing Loss were reduced, but the Board found that these reductions were not proper based on lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus have been granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all the issues, including service connection for heart disorder and prostate disorder, as well as evaluations for various injuries and conditions. As a result, these appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a left shoulder disorder, a back disorder, heart/ischemic heart disease, and a right foot disorder.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's claims for various conditions, including prostate cancer, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, valvular heart disease, asthma, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for arteriosclerotic heart disease status post myocardial infarction prior to September 12, 2017 is dismissed as the Veteran's representative withdrew his appeal from the legacy appeals system and opted into the Higher-Level Review option of the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and/or diabetes mellitus contributed to his death, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, concluding that there is no current disability and attributing his breathing complaints to a heart disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD remains rated at 50 percent, and his TDIU claim is also remanded due to the inextricability of the two issues. Additional development is needed for both claims.

The Board has found the VA examinations inadequate and remanded for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's cardiovascular disorders, including atrial fibrillation, are related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for kidney disease, total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), and an effective date earlier than November 14, 2019, for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, neck disability, and left hip disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 25, 2014 for the grant of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder. The claims for tumors and cancers due to exposure to contaminated water at Wurtsmith AFB including exposure to chemicals, pollutants, benzene, and trichloroethylene (TCE), as well as a heart disability due to exposure to contaminated water at Wurtsmith AFB including exposure to chemicals, pollutants, benzene, and TCE are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure should be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiovascular disease (CAD and CHF), status post myocardial infarction, based on the one-year presumption. The Veteran's heart problems manifested to a compensable degree within one year after his September 1992 separation from active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional development, including obtaining treatment documents from Dr. SMH.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, vision loss, hypertension, kidney/renal disorder, heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). However, these claims are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and other development that may be needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a disagreement over whether the Veteran has ischemic heart disease, and because of new evidence that suggests the condition may not be related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.