Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and non-small cell carcinoma, do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. Therefore, his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a prostate disorder and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, while remanding the claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder due to issues with evidence development and need for additional opinions. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is claimed as aggravated by his second period of service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease as the evidence did not support a link to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities due to exposure to non-ionizing radiation during service.

The Board remands the claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) to schedule a new VA examination due to evidence of worsening condition since the last examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, headaches, ischemic heart disease, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to a Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease, clarifying their relationship to exposure to certain herbicide agents under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309 (e), and addressing the impact of tobacco use on his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and a psychiatric disorder are being reconsidered de novo due to the receipt of relevant official service department records.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's death was caused by end stage COPD due to diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that the service-connected diabetes mellitus and non-service-connected COPD contributed to the cause of death.

The Board granted service connection for ischemic heart disease based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his active duty in Thailand.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder on the theories of direct, chronic disease presumptive, and herbicide agent presumptive service connection.

The Board dismissed all issues from appeal due to the Veteran's attorney withdrawing representation and expressing an intent to withdraw all issues.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted as it was related to his exposure to Agent Orange during active duty on the U.S.S. Hornet.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity and a heart disorder, to include stable angina, need further development due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was rated at 20 percent prior to January 12, 2017 and increased to 40 percent from January 12, 2017 to November 1, 2018.,From November 1, 2018 onwards, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is rated at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, colon cancer, COPD, heart disability, sleep apnea, peptic ulcer, hydrocele, type II diabetes mellitus, urothelial cancer (claimed as bladder cancer), cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The cause of death claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's heart condition is granted service connection as secondary to his left pneumonectomy with thoracotomy. The rib fracture appeal is withdrawn. A remand for a higher rating and TDIU claim is ordered.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to convalescence following cardiac catheterization with stent placement is denied.,Claims for effective dates prior to January 27, 2015, for service connection of PTSD and tinnitus are denied.,Claims for an increased rating for prostate cancer are denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the claim.,Claims for peripheral neuropathy of various extremities and residuals of malaria are remanded due to incomplete records.,Claims for a higher evaluation for tinnitus, IHD, PTSD, and prostate cancer are remanded.,Claim for TDIU is remanded.