Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to March 20, 2012 was considered part and parcel of his increased rating for neuropathy. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any one of his service-connected disabilities alone renders him unemployable prior to March 20, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease prevents him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation due to his limited education and occupational history.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in the Republic of Vietnam. The low back and bilateral knee disorders are denied as not incurred or caused by service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied due to lack of evidence showing he is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for aortic aneurysm, initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent and 60 percent for CAD, service connection for skin cancer, OSA, diabetes mellitus type II, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU have been dismissed due to the grant of service connection for aortic aneurysm in September 2020. The claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for CAD prior to October 26, 2018, from October 26, 2018 to June 24, 2020, and service connection for OSA have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease and PTSD were denied. The RO assigned effective dates of February 20, 2014, which is one year prior to the date that the Veteran’s claims were received by VA.,The Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim for service connection for PTSD prior to February 20, 2015. The RO assigned an effective date of February 20, 2014, which is one year prior to the date that the Veteran’s FDC application was received by VA.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disability and cause of death. The issues on appeal are service connection for a heart disability and cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and coronary artery disease with valvular heart disease due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran is presumed exposed to Agent Orange during his temporary duty assignment in Vietnam, but a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if hypertension is related to service.

The appeal for service connection of a heart condition has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the severity of his arteriosclerotic heart disease from September 2008 to May 2015 and whether a new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to failure to report for a VA examination. The heart disability claim is remanded as the Veteran failed to appear for a VA examination and an addendum opinion was not obtained.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain treatment records and provide the Veteran with an in-person VA examination to address his claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, heart disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,There was no evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination to assess his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft and stenting, is dismissed due to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability and a lung disability, finding no current evidence of these conditions. The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted with an increased rating to 70 percent effective September 28, 2007.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for ischemic heart disease was denied as the condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to February 26, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to in-service herbicide exposure, as well as the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and the cause of death claim. The RO is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed period of temporary active duty with the Air Force and obtain any relevant personnel records. Additionally, a VA opinion is needed regarding the relationship between in-service herbicide exposure and the Veteran’s kidney disability.