Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease have been rated as 20 percent and 30 percent disabling, respectively. The Board has found that these ratings are not higher than warranted based on the evidence of record.,Service connection for diabetic retinopathy is denied because there is no current diagnosis or evidence of such condition.

The Board has restored service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to the improper severance of these conditions. The issues of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 2, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran was not rendered incapable of participating in any substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities and past education and work experience.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and heart disease, finding that the conditions are not related to active military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the Veteran's coronary artery disease, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a cardiac disability, including coronary artery disease (CAD), is granted. The claims for hypertension and kidney disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claim for residuals of a stroke is also remanded. The claim for an aortic aneurysm remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and soft tissue sarcoma due to the need for further development of the record.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded due to an inadequate November 2019 VA examination. A new examination including an ejection fraction test is required.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, associated with herbicide exposure while serving at multiple Royal Thai Air Force Bases.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, vascular disease (including stroke and cerebrovascular accident), and heart condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during service or relatedness to service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate cancer, and atherosclerotic cardio disease (heart disability) due to herbicide exposure as there was no evidence of such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused by his service-connected coronary artery disease, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the issues of service connection for ankle fracture, knee condition, and heart condition have not been returned to the Board.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are granted as they are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's service connection claim for CAD is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for increased ratings of diabetes mellitus, left upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, Grave's disease, and lumbar spine disability are all granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, lumbar spine DDD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and tinnitus, have precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and missing private treatment records. The Veteran's heart disability is being considered secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The issues of service connection for PTSD, peripheral neuropathy right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy left lower extremity remain on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded as new VA treatment records may provide relevant information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder, tinnitus, coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft residuals, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and a midline chest scar, make him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.