Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations due to an inability to obtain certain medical records from Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence suggesting possible exposure to herbicides during service, which could potentially establish presumptive service connection. The Veteran's service in the USS Platte is under review to determine if he was within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is currently rated at 50 percent from March 16, 2012 to September 12, 2014 and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent since September 12, 2014 and denied for a higher rating.,The Veteran is not entitled to TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for such.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infraction and mitral valve replacement (also claimed as heart condition) as secondary to medications taken for his service-connected seizure disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an erroneous report of his death.,The issues of service connection for PTSD, asbestosis, adjustment disorder, hypertension, bilateral eye disorder (including cataracts, arcus senilis, pinguecula, and refractive error), coronary artery disease, and dizziness are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, left ear hearing loss disability, and right ear hearing loss disability. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for vitamin D deficiency, hoarseness, pleuritic chest pain (to include as secondary to a service-connected disability), heart condition (to include congestive heart failure) and to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, digestive disorder (excluding IBS) and to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, left foot neuropathy, right foot neuropathy, left shoulder degenerative joint disease, neck condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, restless leg syndrome, gout, right kidney cyst, urinary incontinence, migraine headaches, and otitis media are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with a current heart condition. An additional VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any potential heart condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.,For the period prior to September 16, 2019, the Veteran’s coronary artery disease was rated at 30 percent and has been increased to 60 percent.,Starting from September 16, 2019, the Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran's hypertension remains denied as there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or secondary service connection to PTSD or diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's GERD has been granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) requires continuous medication, but does not show evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation on x-ray, electro-cardiogram (EKG), or echocardiogram. As a result, the Veteran is denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and dysthymic disorder, did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 10, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and stroke residuals due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions. The VA must obtain additional treatment records, particularly from January 2002 and July 2011, and provide an addendum opinion addressing the onset and relationship between the Veteran's hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and stroke.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease is rated at 60 percent from November 24, 2017. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear and gastrointestinal condition with nausea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected Ischemic Heart Disability and/or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder caused or contributed to his death. The VA is instructed to obtain private treatment records, arrange for a new VA opinion, and consider the articles submitted by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and heart disability including atrial fibrillation due to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded because the May 2015 VA examination is inadequate, and additional medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and his claims for increased ratings for DM2, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and CAD were also denied. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder from February 27, 2020, is not rated higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disability prior to February 11, 2021 is denied. The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent is also denied. The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral foot condition and a heart condition, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the cases of heart disability and respiratory disability due to asbestos exposure. The claims are now pending again with instructions for additional evidence collection and examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during his active duty and concluding that the heart condition is not related to his military service.