Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no evidence of a written service connection claim prior to April 1997, and the earliest documented medical records are from March 2003.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure is being remanded because the Board cannot determine if his ships served in the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of the Republic of Vietnam, which would allow him to be granted presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's occlusion and stenosis of the carotid artery without cerebral infarction, claimed as blockage in main artery going to brain, is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The Veteran's CAD is denied a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, due to herbicide agent exposure, is remanded as the Board needs to determine if the Veteran served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam during his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was granted at 70 percent effective from May 22, 2018. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that the criteria for a higher rating were met prior to this date.,A TDIU based on ischemic heart disease and PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is dismissed.,Service connection for heart disease is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, numbness of the left fingers, numbness of the right fingers, a left foot condition, a right foot condition, and numbness on the right side (described as right leg numbness) are remanded.,Service connection for teeth loss is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for high blood pressure (hypertension) is remanded.,Service connection for low testosterone is remanded.,Service connection for a right knee disability (claimed as a weak right knee), a low back disability (claimed as low back stiffness), and bilateral hearing loss are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a recent Federal Circuit ruling that extends the presumption of herbicide agent exposure to veterans who served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, including its territorial sea. The Veteran's service on USS Prairie is under review to determine if he was exposed in this area.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide agent exposure, specifically because it is unclear whether the Veteran's service aboard the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard was within 12 nautical miles of the landmass of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam, which could affect his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability, headaches, and left shoulder disability are all denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD and multiple physical disabilities, meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, due to his employment during part of the appellate period, further evidence is needed to determine if his employment constitutes 'substantially gainful employment' or 'marginal employment'.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and liver cancer due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer, all presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in the waters of Vietnam.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for type II diabetes mellitus is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, as it was not clear if the Veteran was exposed during his time in Korea.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease have been granted a rating of 60 percent from October 26, 2011 to January 26, 2012. The Veteran has also been granted a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for enlarged prostate, fibroadenosis of breasts (claimed as bilateral breast cysts or nodules), kidney cysts, and heart disease due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA is required to provide a VA opinion regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure and service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is related to his service-connected diabetes and has granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran also has been awarded special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ due to erectile dysfunction. However, several other claims have been remanded as there are outstanding records needed.