Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II, all presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, but remanded the claims for ischemic heart disease (IHD)/coronary artery disease (CAD) and new and material evidence for diabetes mellitus as further research is needed regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the specific ratings and effective dates are not provided in this decision.

The Veteran's heart disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether they are related to service-connected conditions or due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The examiner will need to consider the theories of direct service connection, secondary service connection (to PTSD), and presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that her headaches did not meet the criteria for a 50% rating, and she was granted service connection for depression and an egg allergy. Service connection for TBI and heart disorder were also denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign prostate hypertrophy, CAD, anxiety disorder, right lower extremity varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, difficulty swallowing (residual of stroke), abnormal speech (residual of stroke), peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus has been denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy has also been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his hypertension, which began in service, substantially contributed to his severe coronary artery disease and subsequent heart attack.

The Veteran's neck disability, heart disability (aortic dissection), and diabetes mellitus were denied as not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease was granted an initial 100% rating prior to July 16, 2014. From July 16, 2014, the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, CAD, and diabetes) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Board has decided to remand for further medical opinion regarding whether his PTSD contributed to his death or if his esophageal cancer was due to in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction secondary to coronary artery disease are remanded as additional evidence is needed. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disorders.

The Veteran did not have any pending claims for VA benefits at the time of his death, and there were no unpaid VA benefits. The Board found that accrued benefits cannot be granted because there was no claim for VA benefits pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to her military service. Specifically, there is a need for an addendum VA psychiatric opinion addressing whether she experienced harassment in service and if any acquired psychiatric disorder or heart condition are related to that experience.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease and unspecified depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder, have been granted. The remaining issues are either denied or remanded.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for award of a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, CAD, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that these conditions render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he is already receiving a 100% disability rating for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease, which includes SMC under Section 1114(s).