Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is granted a 30% rating for the period prior to September 26, 2012. A higher rating is denied between January 1, 2013 and August 8, 2018. The Veteran is granted a 100% rating from August 8, 2018.

The Veteran's heart disease is rated at 100% effective April 21, 2016. The Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis is also rated at 100%, with the deduction of his baseline level of disability (which was 100%) resulting in a zero percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder was denied in September 2011 and remains denied as new and material evidence has not been received.,Service connection for high cholesterol is denied because it does not qualify as a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board denied service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as a heart disorder, finding no current diagnosis in the medical records.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. The evidence shows that the Veteran's service-connected chronic bronchitis with asthma contributed substantially or materially to his death, and the Board finds this link sufficient to grant service connection.

The Veteran's death was caused by nonservice-connected conditions, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death as well as DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for tinnitus and earlier effective date. Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted, but the case is remanded to obtain an opinion on whether COPD is related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease, migraine, and right wrist disability. Service connection is denied for cervical spine disability, arm disability, right elbow disability, left thigh cyst, and ulcers.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type 2, are granted as these conditions are presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD and/or ischemic heart disease, or if obesity caused by these conditions is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating his sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to hepatocellular carcinoma and coronary artery disease, finding no evidence of herbicide agent exposure in service or within a year of separation. Service connection was not granted on a direct basis.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam and his conditions are presumptively linked to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD)/ischemic heart disease (IHD) and prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in service near the Korean DMZ in January 1971. Service connection is granted on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease, is presumed to be related to his exposure to toxic herbicides during service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and his CAD was initially denied for the period prior to September 22, 2016. Since then, a 60 percent rating has been granted. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to underlying causes of coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam and grants service connection for his cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease with subendocardial myocardial infarction is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease and the cause of his death are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has determined that there may be additional relevant VA treatment records not yet obtained, and the claims are being remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's hypertension and service-connected coronary artery disease are being remanded for further evaluation. The rating reduction for coronary artery disease from 60% to 30% is also being remanded, as well as the issue of a disability rating in excess of 30% for coronary artery disease. The TDIU claim will be held in abeyance pending resolution of these issues.