Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus and arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal of higher initial disability ratings for bilateral pes planus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal at a Board hearing.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), hypertension, cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure (claimed as hypertensive heart disease), tinea pedis of the right foot, tinea pedis of the left foot, obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to GERD/gastritis), a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD/gastritis, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee are remanded.,The Veteran's appeal of higher initial disability ratings for bilateral pes planus is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal at a Board hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, his CAD with unstable angina at 60 percent, and his diabetes mellitus remains at a 20 percent rating. The effective date for the 60 percent rating for CAD with unstable angina has been granted.

The Veteran's medical expenses incurred from October 6 to October 10, 2008 at Florida Hospital Waterman are granted as the VA effectively rejected his transfer during this period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury. The TDIU claim was also denied because the Veteran has other service-connected disabilities and does not have a combined rating of 70% or more, which would allow him to qualify for a TDIU based on disability alone.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for DIC, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the February 2014 rating decision. The Board also found that July 3, 2017 is the earliest possible effective date for the DIC grant.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for coronary artery disease is granted at a 60 percent level, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriatic arthritis and a heart condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 25, 1997 for service connection of coronary artery disease (CAD) as there was no evidence that he filed a claim before this date. The Veteran is considered a Nehmer class member and thus entitled to presumptive service connection based on his Vietnam-era service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, status post stenting and bypass graft surgery (claimed as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and chest pain) as secondary to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea with asthma and restrictive lung disease. The TDIU issue is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a vision impairment condition and heart disability, both potentially related to herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to schedule VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected sinusitis, but the claims for supraventricular arrhythmia and COPD remain pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, aortic arteriosclerosis, and congestive heart failure, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for skin cancer, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus due to additional development being necessary. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is not presumed based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 9, 2016 for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no indication of a prior claim. The effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been assigned based on the date of the initial claim.,An earlier effective date of March 9, 2015 was granted for left leg amputation below the knee and SMC based on anatomical loss of the left lower extremity below the knee as the Veteran's claims encompassed these conditions at the time he filed his April 2016 claim.,An earlier effective date of March 9, 2015 was granted for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease based on liberalizing legislation regarding herbicide agent exposure. The earliest effective date is one year prior to the receipt of his intent to file.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 30, 2016 for service connection for left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease was denied as there is no indication that this condition existed at the time he filed his April 2016 claim.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is remanded due to inconsistencies in VA examination reports and treatment records, as well as a failure to obtain all relevant VA treatment records from Tucson and Prescott.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings and TDIU was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent or 60 percent for coronary artery disease from December 1, 2005 to January 28, 2014. The Board found that there was no evidence of congestive heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent during this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder is remanded.