Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for hypertensive cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease with bypass and valve replacement has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew from appellate status.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure during service at a Thai military base. The Board found the Veteran was exposed to herbicides and granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's combined schedular disability ratings stemming from diabetes met the criteria for TDIU as of April 13, 2009. The Board granted entitlement to TDIU based on reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating and TDIU due to conflicting opinions regarding his PTSD symptoms and their impact on his ability to work. The VA is required to obtain updated medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of thyroid cancer or a thyroid condition was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeal for increased ratings on various foot disabilities, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and sebaceous cysts were all denied.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including an irregular heartbeat rhythm, is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to her service.,Service connection for the chipped tooth and grayish appearance at the gum line around #12 is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to active duty. The Veteran was treated in Iraq after falling during an explosion but there is no evidence of any dental disorder related to this incident or any other periods of service.,The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for cervicalgia (head and neck pain) is remanded as the VA examination did not provide information on the frequency, severity, and duration of flare-ups.,Service connection for hernia is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking it to active duty. The Veteran had previously undergone surgery for a left hernia but there is no current evidence indicating its relationship to her service.,The claim for disability manifested by blood in urine is remanded as the VA examination did not provide an opinion on whether this condition exists and if so, whether it is related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, obstructive sleep apnea, heart disorder, and hypertension may be related to his military service in Southwest Asia. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to support this determination.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the May 2013 rating decision is remanded due to untimely filing of a VA Form 9. The issues are service connection for Schmidt's syndrome and assignment of a disability rating for ischemic CAD.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to ischemic heart disease, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure during active service and insufficient medical records to establish a present disability.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease and cardiomyopathy associated with hypertension are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds no basis to assign a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not necessitate the care or assistance of another person on a regular basis to attend to the activities of daily living, to protect him from the hazards or dangers of his daily environment, or to substantially confine him to his dwelling or immediate premises. Therefore, SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition and bladder cancer, finding that the conditions are not related to service or service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus but the other conditions remain pending as they are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied in the past, but new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board is granting these claims as secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of heart disease and diabetes mellitus for further development. For heart disease, a medical opinion is needed on whether it is at least as likely as not related to in-service chemical exposures. For diabetes mellitus, if herbicide agent exposure is verified, a new and material evidence claim will be considered; otherwise, a medical opinion will address the etiology of diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The claims for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and significant evidence supports this reopening. The claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) is remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure during service. However, his ischemic heart disease and valvular heart disease are not considered due to service connection.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen claims of service connection for various conditions, including pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, skin disease, ischemic heart disease, and leukopenia. The evidence did not establish a nexus between any of these conditions and service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disability and pre-existing cardiac disabilities. The VA will need to provide addendum opinions from a medical examiner.