Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed the nonservice-connected pension benefits appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal before a decision was made.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 16, 2018. Therefore, entitlement to TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for heart disease and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The severity of the Veteran’s symptoms, including suicidal ideation, impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish effective relationships, more closely approximates the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and a psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to a heart disorder, need further examination and evaluation. The decision is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides during his Naval service aboard the USS George K. Mackenzie (DD-836), is granted based on presumed exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted as it is at least as likely as not that the condition began in service and has persisted since.,The Veteran's kidney cancer claim is denied because there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service, nor any indication that the condition manifested within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded due to the possibility of delayed onset tinnitus and insufficient rationale for the November 2016 VA examiner’s opinion.,The Veteran's left knee disability claim is remanded as there are no medical opinions regarding a nexus between in-service complaints and current disabilities.,The Veteran's right knee disability claim is remanded due to lack of medical evidence addressing the relationship between service and current knee conditions.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is remanded because there is insufficient evidence linking current symptoms to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and ischemic heart disease claims are both remanded as exposure to herbicide agents in service must be verified before a determination can be made on these claims.,The Veteran's respiratory disability claim is remanded due to the possibility of secondary service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the medical opinion provided by the August 2020 VA examiner. The Veteran's heart diseases need to be evaluated for their likely etiology, considering service treatment records and previous medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and heart condition due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection, including a need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, coronary artery disease, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, gastroparesis, and nerve impairments in the left lower extremity, cause him to be unable to seek or maintain gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition has been reopened and denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and lung cancer have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted service connection as it is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and heart disorder due to incomplete development, specifically lack of response to medical record requests. The Veteran needs to be provided with VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The Veteran's service records show that he was exposed to noise during service and has reported hearing loss since then.,The claim for service connection for IHD based on herbicide exposure is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder claim was granted with a 30% evaluation, while the heart disorder claim was denied. The appeal is mixed as both claims are decided on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome as due to service-connected right wrist tendinitis and denied service connection for a cardiac disability, to include heart disease. Service connection was also denied for left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to potential issues with the current evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and an addendum opinion regarding left ventricular hypertrophy.

The Board has partially vacated its April 2020 decision, granting service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denying service connection for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, and a heart condition.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, with the diagnosis based on current symptoms and confirmed combat experience.,Presumptive service connection for aortic atherosclerosis (as ischemic heart disease) due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam is granted.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure is also granted.