Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of eye disability, fecal leakage, and ED have been dismissed. The appeals for peripheral neuropathy of the LUE and RUE, a rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD prior to June 29, 2018, and TDIU are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that ischemic heart disease and metastatic melanoma were related to his active duty service. The Board concluded that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in-service, presumptively causing his ischemic heart disease, and also found a causal relationship between his sun exposure during service and his fatal melanoma.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for an examination to determine if any identified heart disability had its clinical onset during service or is due to an event or incident of the Veteran's period of active service, to include his presumed tactical herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, heart disorder, PTSD with TBI, gout of the right great toe, and chest pain due to potential overlap in symptoms and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's heart palpitations and right foot problems are being remanded for further evaluation due to unclear diagnoses and potential aggravation claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee disability, as well as his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU based on coronary artery disease and other disabilities, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for several issues related to a disability rating and effective date for special monthly compensation (SMC) due to procedural errors in sending documents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, bilateral hip conditions, and ischemic heart disease due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current disabilities to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left thumb injury was denied.,Service connection for cardiovascular disability and bilateral hearing loss were both denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.,No effective date provided.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability and left side trapezius muscle disability, but has remanded the claim for pinguecula.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's fatal esophageal cancer was related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and whether his heart disease contributed to his death. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities as well as a heart disability.,The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his right knee and leg, kidney, and heart disabilities were caused by VA treatment in November 2008 at the Houston VAMC. The opinions are needed to determine if these disabilities were foreseeable consequences of the treatment.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to a lack of medical evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to work during specific time periods. The case is returned for further development and an updated opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability, including as secondary to asbestosis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's heart disability and seizure disorder are granted as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.,Service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected prior to April 24, 2017. The Board denied an earlier effective date due to lack of timely notice of disagreement or new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted at a 70 percent rating prior to August 31, 2013. The initial rating for ischemic heart disease remains denied but the criteria for a 60 percent rating have been met since April 23, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for congestive heart failure due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that there was no relationship between his current condition and his service-connected conditions.