Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and PTSD), right foot disability, left foot disability, heart disability, and pulmonary embolism are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection of the acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive heart disease has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities have also been denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of continuity or chronicity of any bilateral knee condition, and there is no indication that the Veteran is competent to etiologically link his symptoms to service.

The Veteran's left hand condition, cervical condition, and right hand condition are not service connected.,Service connection for a heart condition, to include ischemic heart disease is remanded as the Board finds that VA examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and ischemic heart disease due to insufficient information regarding in-service herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran is asked to provide more details or contact him if further assistance is needed.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his service-connected disabilities or exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) with his pulmonary fibrosis and death. The Board held that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's active duty service and/or his service-connected conditions and his cause of death.

The Board has decided the bladder and heart disability issues, but has remanded the left kidney disability issue due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's service connection claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation as secondary to his PTSD, is being remanded due to procedural errors in the previous rating decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, hypertension (secondary to service-connected schizophrenia), heart disability, and residuals of a head injury due to incomplete examinations and lack of medical opinions. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations and obtain VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted effective February 6, 2011. The Board found that the combined severity of his service-connected disabilities has precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, to include sleep apnea; a liver disability; and a heart disability. The evidence does not establish current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The issues of service connection for neck disability and heart condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart condition and dental condition. The Veteran's flat feet, spots in eyes, stomach condition (constipation), dizziness, and back condition are all remanded for further examination and determination.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease was severed due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The Board has restored the original effective date based on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for increased ratings, SMC prior to February 2, 2018, and earlier effective dates have been dismissed. TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease was granted with an effective date of February 28, 2013. The earliest available date of claim is the later of the two dates: the date entitlement arose and the date of claim. In this case, because the date of claim is later, that is the earliest possible effective date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a heart disorder (arteriosclerosis), and a right eye disorder (cataract) due to inadequate development of his claims. The Veteran must be provided with VA examinations or medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to ischemic heart disease, which is presumed based on exposure to herbicide agents (including Agent Orange) during his Vietnam War service. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 was dismissed as moot because the grant of service connection for the cause of death renders it unnecessary.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer due to potential exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) during service in Vietnam. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's service aboard the U.S.S. O'Bannon and whether it was within 12 nautical miles of the Republic of Vietnam or in waters outlined by 38 U.S.C. § 1116A from February 1967 to October 1969.