Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding a heart disorder. Further development is needed, including obtaining additional medical records and opinions.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development and evidence.,No effective date is assigned as no earlier claim was filed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, complications of diabetes mellitus including loss of vision, and sleep apnea. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service, and concluded that they are not related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for ischemic heart disease and congestive heart failure, finding that no prior claim existed for these conditions.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, degenerative arthritis of the spine, hiatal hernia, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, and tendonitis of the right shoulder, rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that her condition did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise causally related to her service or service-connected MDD with PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD and lumbar spine disability are granted, but the issues of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, TDIU, service connection for heart disability, and prostate disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's military duties at a Royal Thai Air Force Base in Vietnam likely exposed him to herbicide agents. The decision is based on presumed exposure and the presumption applies due to his service near or within the perimeter of the base.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease (claimed as ischemic heart disease), finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to his active duty service or any presumptive conditions.,Specifically, the Board determined that hypertension did not manifest within one year of discharge and was not related to diabetes mellitus. For arteriosclerotic heart disease, the Board found insufficient evidence linking it to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and IHD have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for CAD due to Agent Orange exposure. The claims for curvature of the spine and right hip disability have been withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision.

Service connection is granted for a neck condition, right shoulder condition, and obstructive sleep apnea.,The heart condition issue remains pending as it requires additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected ischemic heart disease is granted with an effective date of November 5, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for heart disorder, low back disorder, right ankle/foot disorder, and right knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the claim as the evidence does not show that any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were at least as likely as not related to his death.

The Veteran's death was caused by a probable pulmonary embolism, which is not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and migraine headaches did not substantially contribute to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant, as they do not involve anatomical loss of use of both hands, burn injuries, inhalational injuries, blindness in both eyes with 20/200 visual acuity or less, or specific combinations of impairments.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential herbicide exposure in Korea, and for his claims of retinopathy and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy as they are inextricably intertwined with his diabetes claim.