Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease status post coronary artery bypass graft is rated at 100% throughout the appeal period.,Entitlement to SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is granted effective May 25, 2005.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition, asthma, radiculopathy, right lower extremity, hypertension, and heart condition have been dismissed due to the absence of a case or controversy.,Entitlement to service connection has been granted for lumbosacral strain with a 10 percent rating, asthma with a 30 percent rating, sciatic nerve and femoral nerve of bilateral lower extremities with a 40 percent and 20 percent ratings respectively.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disability, type 2 diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and heart disability (claimed as coronary artery disease), have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or exposure to herbicide agents that would support presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shell fragment wound residuals, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, left knee patellar tendonitis, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment as of October 1, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU rating effective from June 16, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current heart condition and service.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent prior to April 10, 2015 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. Service connection for ischemic heart disease was granted.

Service connection for CAD is granted, but the Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 50 percent. The effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, dental condition, eye condition, and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide exposure. The decision is pending further investigation.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The reasons provided include lack of in-service injury or disease, no chronic symptoms during service, and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology post-service.,The Board also denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease based on the absence of a showing of continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's CAD and seizure disorder have resulted in a TDIU effective October 22, 2009. The VA has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for hypertensive heart disease with coronary artery disease and a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7007 or Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart disability is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and colon cancer were denied as there was no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection on a presumptive basis could not be granted due to the lack of manifestation within one year post-service discharge.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his current condition. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both need to be addressed together.

The Veteran's entitlement to a higher rating for his coronary artery disease and earlier effective date for TDIU are granted. However, the claim for extraschedular TDIU prior to August 9, 2010 is remanded.

Service connection is denied for thrombocytopenia. The Veteran's exposure to jet fuel, Houghton hydraulic fluids, trichloroethylene, graphic grease, zinc chromate, JP4 or JP5, graphic grease, jet exhaust, air-borne steam vapors, and fog foam in service has not been established as a cause of the condition.,Service connection is remanded for coronary artery disease due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's claim cannot be substantiated based on his reported exposure during service aboard USS Enterprise off the coast of Vietnam.,Service connection is remanded for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's claim cannot be substantiated based on his reported exposure during service aboard USS Enterprise off the coast of Vietnam.

The Veteran's heart disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a more contemporary VA examination to assess its severity.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for heart disease and entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as they were not properly addressed in the previous decision.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral macular edema, coronary artery disease, and kidney cancer due to the death of the appellant.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and skin disorder (previously claimed as hives due to an allergic reaction to penicillin) is granted.,However, the service connection for these conditions remains pending and will be remanded for further development.