Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board is remanding cases for additional development to determine if the Veteran's shipboard service on the USS Rowan included any presence within twelve nautical miles of mainland Vietnam during his time onboard from November 1973 to November 1975.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease, and the Board dismissed these appeals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is remanded due to the need for updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient examination reports regarding the relationship between his cardiovascular disease and service-connected hypertension. The Board cannot make a determination without further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, PTSD with depressive features, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, as they need further development regarding whether the Veteran's ship came within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnam coast.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for enlarged prostate is remanded as the evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of prostate cancer or other prostate disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and bilateral eye disability, both potentially related to herbicide agent exposure during service. The claims will be reviewed with additional medical examinations to determine if these disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his hypertension and skin disability, as well as service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and heart disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted in some cases, and additional VA treatment records have been added to his file. The Veteran will be provided a supplemental statement of the case if their benefits are not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam qualifies for presumptive service connection under VA laws and regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was granted on January 27, 2015. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date because the claim was not filed until after one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam and the relationship between his atrial fibrillation and cause of death.

The Board has determined that the RO did not substantially comply with prior remand directives and another remand is necessary to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is found to be a contributing factor in his development of coronary artery disease (CAD), and the Board grants service connection for CAD as secondary to his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease and hypertension due to herbicide exposure because there is no evidence of service within 12 nautical miles of the demarcation line in Vietnam. The AOJ needs to verify if the USS Enterprise was within the territorial sea of Vietnam or within 12 nautical miles of the demarcation line during the Veteran's service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for DM, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity. The claim for an earlier effective date for DM was denied.,Service connection was established for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, is denied. An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease prior to August 5, 2019 is also denied. A TDIU from August 5, 2019 is granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of VA benefits. The appeal for service connection for a prostate disability was withdrawn.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and a rating for tinea versicolor. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records from 1977 to 2014.