Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder and CAD were denied initial ratings higher than the currently assigned ones. The diabetes mellitus was granted a 20 percent rating from November 14, 2008 to March 3, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of VA's duty to assist by making reasonable efforts to obtain all records held by government entities pertaining to the Veteran’s military service and relevant to the claim. Specifically, the Court instructed that the Board should seek records from both units in which the Veteran served—Company C, 4th Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, Ft. Riley, Kansas and Company F, 40th Armor Regiment, United States Army Europe—with the request covering records from April 15, 1971 to June 4, 1971.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected nonobstructive coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus substantially or materially contributed to his death from cardiac arrest, granting entitlement to service connection for cause of death.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The appeal of service connection for a heart disability and psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and left foot amputation, result in loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board finds eligibility for financial assistance to purchase an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for upper respiratory conditions, pulmonary conditions, and gastrointestinal conditions due to lack of a VA examination. The heart disability and sleep apnea claims have been denied.

The Veteran's lung cancer residuals, type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's right index finger amputation and below the right knee amputation are also granted as secondary to his type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, finding that there was no direct or secondary relationship to his military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 31, 2010 for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The decision is based on the Veteran's initial claim filed in June 2002 and subsequent evidence showing ischemic heart disease as early as March 2005.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disorder, skin disorder, degenerative disc disease in low back, right elbow olecranon bone spur, arthritis in left hand, and arthritis in right hand as these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for ischemic heart disease was denied, and he was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to insufficient opinions regarding exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) during service. The Veteran's military occupational specialty was Ground Radar Superintendent, which may have exposed him to TCE.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability associated with herbicide exposure and a compensable evaluation for his service-connected hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic heart condition or IHD in service and that the current heart disability did not pre-exist service. The hearing loss disability is currently rated as 0% (noncompensable).

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left foot disabilities, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, heart disability, and cervical spine disability. The Veteran's assertions were not supported by medical evidence or credible supporting statements.,No current diagnoses of these conditions have been established in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and benign prostatic hypertrophy due to exposure to environmental contaminants at Fort Campbell, Fort Bragg, and Fort Lewis. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides is not presumed as he did not serve in Vietnam or Korea.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not necessitate the need for aid and attendance, as he is able to perform most of his daily activities independently.

The Board has granted a total disability rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) status post coronary artery bypass grafting (SP CABG) from August 1, 2017 to November 30, 2017 and from February 1, 2018 to July 31, 2018. The Veteran is not entitled to a total disability rating at any other point in time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to March 6, 2013 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied. The Board found that the May 2011 rating decision denying service connection was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and the earliest possible effective date is March 6, 2013.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable evaluation for hypertension and TDIU prior to November 10, 2015 have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.