Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the Veteran's DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are granted, but has remanded for further action on the issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Veteran served aboard a ship within the territorial sea of Vietnam, but further verification is needed to determine if he was exposed to agent orange.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer due to herbicide agent exposure, as the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed in Vietnam.

The Veteran's heart disease is presumed to be related to service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and stomach tumor are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) due to exposure to herbicides while serving aboard the USS O'Hare within 12 nautical miles from the shores of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's heart disorder, specifically his diagnosis and service connection. The case will be returned for further examination and clarification of medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from June 30, 2011, to December 29, 2011.,Since December 30, 2011, the Veteran has been in receipt of a 100 percent schedular evaluation for service-connected PTSD and is now receiving SMC based on the need for aid and assistance.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure. The heart condition and eye conditions are remanded as the Veteran needs a VA examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence from VA's Mayaguez VA Outpatient Clinic and missing in-service hospitalization records for hepatitis, hypertension, heart disease, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. Specifically, additional VA medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder prior to his death in September 2014, as well as the nature and etiology of any claimed aortic valve stenosis and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for heart disease is dismissed, and the issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU rating for service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) alone is granted, and the schedular ratings for CAD are withdrawn. The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and PTSD evaluations are remanded.

The reduction in the rating for coronary artery disease from 100% to 60% was proper. The Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate during this period.

Service connection is granted for chest pain and denied for heart condition (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and arrhythmia). The case is REMANDED for additional examinations to address the Veteran's back disability and cold injury residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure. The claims for carotid arterial disease, left hand disability, right hand disability, and loss of use of a foot are remanded as medical opinions are needed on their etiology. SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound is also remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of her claimed condition. The case will be returned to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected status post CABG for AHD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this issue due to a lack of recent medical records and the need for a new VA examination.

Your appeal for a higher initial rating for hearing loss has been dismissed as the Board's April 2019 decision already denied such a rating. The issue is moot because you withdrew your appeal for hypertension and continue to pursue service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and heart disability. The skin condition (previously characterized as chloracne) is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, heart disability, or skin condition.

The Veteran's spouse is not found to have a factual need for aid and attendance due to her medical conditions, mobility issues, and financial management.