Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema and COPD (claimed as a respiratory condition) has been denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to his military service.,Service connection for a headache disability is also denied, with no evidence showing that headaches were incurred during or related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information about Agent Orange exposure and a need for further medical evaluation. The Veteran's heart disorder may be related to service, but more evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The decision is pending further development.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, diabetes, PN BLE, CAD, and ED have been reopened.,New evidence has been submitted that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in the territorial seas of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and coronary artery disease was dismissed. The Board also remanded the cases of diabetes mellitus, type II, and coronary artery disease due to potential herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, thus his claim for special monthly compensation is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied due to the failure to file a timely Substantive Appeal within the required time frame.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease was granted a rating of 60 percent from July 14, 2004, to March 2, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of various extremities due to herbicide agent exposure. The case is being returned to determine if the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam or its territorial waters during his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran served in or near Vietnam, which is required for presumptive service connection under Agent Orange exposure. The VA will need to verify this information and possibly obtain additional records from the ship USS Canberra.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his mental health disability, heart disability, lung disability, and scar are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the timing and nature of his exposure to herbicides, as well as incomplete treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to verify proximity to Vietnam and obtain pertinent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on three issues (sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, and hypertension) has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's stroke was granted service connection, and his TDIU claim is also granted.,However, the heart disorder, psoriasis, and diabetes mellitus claims have been withdrawn.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection was also granted for coronary artery disease (CAD) and prostate cancer due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama. The Veteran is requested to provide details on his alleged exposure and further development is needed.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease and coronary arteriosclerosis, is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during his service aboard the USS Eversole.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which was granted for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.