Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding Department of Defense treatment records not being obtained.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for depressive disorder was denied. The Board found the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss were reopened, but no new evidence was provided to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, stroke, headaches (secondary to a non-service-connected cervical spine disorder), and a cervical spine disorder due to incomplete development and lack of medical opinions addressing the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied. The Board found no indication that the Veteran intended to file a claim for CAD prior to March 27, 2006.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and a heart disability. Therefore, another remand is required to further develop these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and diabetes mellitus type II as there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury, and the conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease, prostate cancer with frequent urination, erectile dysfunction due to prostate cancer, and depression. The decision is based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during service within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to its inextricably intertwined nature with other pending appeals for service connection. The appellant's eligibility for CHAMPVA benefits will be reconsidered after these appeals are resolved.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification regarding the relationship between the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) and his service-connected hypertension. The issues of service connection and TDIU are inextricably intertwined, so they must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his exposure to toxic herbicide agents during active military service, which is presumed to have caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has granted an initial 60 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease, effective August 14, 2008. The criteria for this rating were met based on a workload of greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea, angina and dizziness.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four conditions (residuals of a perforated eardrum, residuals of being electrocuted, IHD, and diabetes) have been dismissed due to the appellant requesting withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and coronary artery disease (CAD), have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 20, 2013. The Board has granted TDIU from that date. However, prior to May 20, 2013, the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of hypertensive heart disease and erectile dysfunction, finding that no earlier effective date prior to February 13, 2018 is possible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of tinnitus which was granted but not earlier than July 31, 2018. The other conditions were either not shown to be related to service or did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's reported exposure to herbicide agents during service. The claim will be reconsidered after verifying the exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to uncertainty about the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his military service, particularly at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base and Eglin Air Force Base. The AOJ is instructed to verify these alleged exposures.

Service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Service connection for valvular heart disease is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA medical opinion regarding possible heart disorder diagnoses and assessing whether any diagnosed disorder is related to active service or a service-connected disability.