Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, including as due to herbicide agent exposure, was dismissed because the Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement with the February 2019 rating decision.

The Board has determined that new evidence supports the need for readjudication of claims for service connection for PTSD, coronary artery disease, and prostate cancer. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Thailand is presumed, which allows for presumptive service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease and granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequacies in previous VA opinions and the need for further development regarding the nature and etiology of his right knee disability, bilateral heel spurs, and heart condition.

The Veteran's CAD warrants a 10 percent disability rating from the beginning of the appeal period to October 15, 2019. From October 15, 2019, the Veteran's CAD warrants a 60 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, hypertension, prostate disability, diabetes mellitus, brain cyst, and psychiatric disorder, all of which were found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for gout, hypertension, CAD, and residuals of a stroke. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for coronary artery disease is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder (Crohn's disease), and heart disability (residuals of myocardial infarction) due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of coronary artery disease, prostate cancer residuals, and a surgical scar. The effective date was set at September 28, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of stroke, finding that they are not directly related to his service-connected coronary artery disease with a history of myocardial infarctions and are not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the claim of TDIU from March 26, 2010 is moot due to the Veteran's receipt of a 100% disability rating for heart disease and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) since that date. The criteria for schedular TDIU prior to March 26, 2010 are not met as the Veteran did not meet the numeric requirements for a schedular TDIU. Referral for extraschedular consideration is also denied due to insufficient evidence of unemployability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as to service connection for low back disorder, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disability and its relationship to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 13, 2009 due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is granted a 100% rating for coronary artery disease and hypertension prior to May 12, 2015. Effective date of July 31, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and developing the claim if radiation exposure is found to be related to the Veteran's heart disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents, which may affect his claims for service connection. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tooth loss, gum disease, jaw fracture residuals, and heart disease have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to in-service trauma.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions because the VA dental examinations found that his missing teeth were due to periodontal disease rather than an in-service injury. The Board also determined that he does not have jaw fracture residuals and heart disease.

The Veteran's heart condition, rated at 60 percent since March 17, 2020, is not productive of chronic congestive heart failure or a workload of less than 3 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope. The Board denied the claim for a higher rating.