Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 28, 2013.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for clarification of his employment history and an evaluation of his service-connected disabilities' impact on his ability to work.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service, which could potentially grant service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Board has granted a schedular TDIU effective July 26, 2014.,However, the evidence indicates that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities may have prevented obtaining and/or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to this date. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU is therefore remanded for referral to the Director of the Compensation Service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, diabetic heart disease, unspecified depressive disorder, abdomen scar, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity have been granted service connection. The effective dates for these awards are December 13, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since August 16, 2010. The Board has remanded the claims for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly those related to diabetes and stroke, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Erectile Dysfunction is denied because he does not have a diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease/ischemic heart disease, which is required to establish secondary service connection. The Veteran's claim for service connection for Coronary Artery Disease/ischemic heart disease is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service at Korat RTAFB in Thailand is presumed. The Veteran was stationed near the perimeter of the base and thus meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has vacated its previous decision denying service connection for ischemic heart disease due to exposure to herbicide agents and has remanded the case for further review, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart conditions are related to such exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased hearing loss, service connection for lung cancer and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease and hypertension do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted with a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The cardiovascular disorder (ischemic heart disease) was granted on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's valvular heart disease, with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, is related to his in-service exposure to an herbicide agent and has been granted service connection. The issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to September 18, 2017, and in excess of 30 percent from that date for service-connected coronary artery disease has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence received since the last statement of the case. The issues include service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, all presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent since March 26, 2013 and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, and a neck disorder. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing current disability.,Service connection is not granted for heart disease beyond cerebrovascular accident as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of June 9, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities. Before this date, the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for coronary artery disease were denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation during the specified periods.