Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which include coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, post-operative scarring from a heart procedure, and erectile dysfunction. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure is granted. The cases of a recurrent skin disability (psoriasis) and an arm disability (fracture residuals) are remanded, as well as the initial ratings for prostate cancer residuals and a prostatectomy scar.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his heart condition and lower extremity neuropathies, have resulted in a loss of use of one or more extremities that precludes locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. As such, he is eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Board has dismissed all the issues related to service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including right inguinal hernia. The decision is due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for an increased initial evaluation and TDIU are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his private medical records.

The reduction of the disability rating for CAD from 60% to 30% was proper. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for CAD and effective dates for TDIU and DEA were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed heart disorder, as well as his service connection claim under Chapter 17.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy, made it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from April 3, 2009, to June 14, 2016, and from October 1, 2016, to August 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disorder, claimed as COPD and emphysema, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between his current condition and service. The heart disorder, hypertension, and stroke residuals claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for CAD was granted at 60% from August 31, 2010 to December 8, 2011. The rating was subsequently reduced to 30% effective January 1, 2015. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of her husband's cause of death, finding no CUE in the March 2013 rating decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings for various conditions and claims of secondary service connection. The decision also notes that there are outstanding VA treatment records which need to be obtained.

The Board dismissed all the appeals as they are related to deceased Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes and heart condition due to insufficient medical evidence on record. The Veteran's current conditions are being evaluated, along with his in-service history.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and military personnel file, as well as any private medical records. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease, presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, was denied as the earliest possible effective date is December 11, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for Individual Unemployability prior to January 2, 2011 is denied as he was gainfully employed full-time from November 9, 2008 to January 1, 2011 and did not meet the statutory criteria for a TDIU during that period.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 USC chapter 35 was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease, to include heart valve replacement, implanted cardiac pacemaker, and endocarditis, is denied as there was no prior claim filed before June 24, 2019.