Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's psychiatric disability, but remanded the issues of renal and heart disabilities due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, alcohol use disorder, lung disability, and kidney disability are remanded.

The Veteran's cause of death, coronary artery disease, is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure while serving on active duty at Royal Thai Air Bases between 1969 and 1971. Service connection for the Veteran's cause of death is granted under the PACT Act.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation and whether any of his current disabilities are related to such exposure. The heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and loss of balance issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease is granted.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, claimed as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, is also granted.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 60 percent, but the Board finds remand necessary to determine if there was a factually ascertainable increase in severity within one year prior to his October 18, 2011 claim.

The Veteran's claims for ischemic heart disease with myocardial infarction, psoriasis, and diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis were denied in the December 2013 rating decision. The effective dates of October 15, 2015, were assigned after the Veteran submitted an Intent to File Claims on October 15, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or caused by service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for CAD was denied. A separate 10% rating for bradycardia following pacemaker implantation is granted, and a temporary total rating due to hospitalization for reimplantation of the pacemaker is also granted. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to TDIU from December 10, 2012.

The Veteran's cause of death is listed as COPD, but the amended death certificate also notes other conditions contributing to his death. The appellant should be given an opportunity to submit additional documentation used for the amended death certificate.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disability, right wrist strain with arthritis symptoms, and impairment of the right thumb degenerative joint disease render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of August 1, 2015.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for CAD was not clearly erroneous and restored it. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during his service at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand is presumed.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 17, 2016 for a 100 percent evaluation of ischemic heart disease status post myocardial infarction (Nehmer grant), finding that the evidence is in approximate balance and supports this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining a new examination for his heart disability, which has worsened since the last examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and tinnitus, render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for supraventricular arrhythmia is granted. Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and sleep apnea are remanded, while service connection for a heart condition other than supraventricular arrhythmia remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, stroke, kidney disorder, lumbar spine disorder, prostate cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to a lumbar spine disorder), and bilateral eye disorder. The issues have been remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, stroke, kidney disorder, lumbar spine disorder, prostate cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to a lumbar spine disorder), and bilateral eye disorder. The issues have been remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, stroke residuals, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of direct service connection or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Board found that there was no in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other toxins linked to these conditions. The Veteran's heart condition is presumed to have existed prior to service, and he has not provided credible evidence linking it to service. His diabetes mellitus and stroke residuals are not considered presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure. The peripheral neuropathy was first diagnosed many years after service.