Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's fatal respiratory disabilities had onset in, or are otherwise related to service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's cause of death was service-connected, and he had a total disability rating from a service-connected disability since July 14, 1998. The appellant is the daughter of the Veteran who died in March 2009. She filed for retroactive Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits but did not file within one year of receiving notice of her mother's eligibility to DEA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, tinnitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left ear hearing loss. His combined rating is 80 percent. The Board finds it necessary to remand the issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to lack of opinion on impact on work.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's atrial fibrillation is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's heart disability, manifested by myxomatous mitral valve disease and mitral regurgitation, is granted. The Board also remanded the cases for service connection of a left shoulder disability, cerebrovascular accident residuals, and hypertension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease, coronary heart disease, and right-hand neuropathy.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis and PTSD are found to be related to his service. However, the Veteran's hypercholesterolemia is not a disability for which VA benefits can be awarded.,Service connection has been granted for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to exposure in Korea.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Thailand during his military service is presumed. The claims are remanded for further action on diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, ulcers, and a loss of consciousness condition. The Veteran's heart disorder was not shown to have started during service or be related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for ulcers was also denied as there is no evidence showing the condition began during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records related to the Veteran's National Guard service, and requests that VA obtain all relevant records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for coronary artery disease as his claim was not properly reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and atrial fibrillation due to in-service exposure. The issues are intertwined with his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to bilateral lower extremity PVD or right lower extremity DVT, and remanded the issues of initial rating in excess of 40 percent for PVD of the right lower extremity and rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of DVT of the right lower extremity with history of pulmonary embolus.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to inextricability with other pending claims.

The Veteran's heart disease, which includes atrial fibrillation and sinus bradycardia, is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypothyroidism. His rating for hypothyroidism remains at 60 percent.

The Veteran's effective date for service connection of CAD was granted as January 9, 2009. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.,The Veteran's initial rating for CAD associated with DM2 remains at 60 percent and no higher rating is granted.,The Veteran's rating for diabetic dermatopathy remains at 10 percent and no higher rating is granted.,The Veteran's rating for DM2 remains at 20 percent and no higher rating is granted.,The Veteran's ratings for PN in the LLE and RLE remain at 10 percent and no higher ratings are granted from August 15, 2016 onwards. Prior to that date, they were rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran was granted TDIU effective July 1, 2014.,No specific effective date is assigned for the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is remanded due to potential exposure to herbicides during his service in Vietnam waters, but the evidence does not conclusively establish this. The VA examiner will need to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is related to heart disease, which is an enumerated disease related to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that further development is needed regarding the precise location of the USS Garcia during the Veteran’s service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for depression, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia due to new and material evidence. However, these claims have not been substantiated as there is no established link between the current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, type II diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death during the appeal process.