Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and need for additional development regarding the Veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the character of his discharge. The Board of Correction of Naval Records upgraded his discharge from general court martial to under honorable conditions in February 2008, which allowed him to receive VA benefits. However, an earlier effective date was not granted as it would have been based on when he filed for correction of his military records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension was dismissed. The claim of reopening a heart disability was granted, and the issue is pending further adjudication.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for reopening of the previously denied lung/ respiratory disability is granted as new and material evidence has been received. Service connection for acid reflux is not established.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease as due to exposure to herbicides. The issue of prostate cancer is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and COPD are not related to herbicide exposure or service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed heart, gastrointestinal, and neurological disabilities are not related to his active service or any service-connected disability. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining inpatient clinical records from the U.S. Naval Hospital Roosevelt Roads and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities prior to October 5, 2009, was 40 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability with chest pain and hypertension, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim. The Veteran's cardiovascular disabilities were not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the residuals of food poisoning and a low back disability. The claims for heart disorder, hypertension, neck gunshot wound residuals, and head trauma residuals are also denied.

The Board has decided to grant the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including residuals of myocardial infarction, as it is determined that this condition is related to his service-connected left lower extremity cellulitis or its treatment.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 4, 2012 for the award of special monthly compensation at the housebound level is denied. The effective date is set as September 4, 2012 based on the increase in his rating for polycystic kidney disease with stage IV renal failure.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD and IHD have been denied as there is no evidence showing the conditions were present prior to the assigned effective dates. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, which was secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, post coronary artery bypass graft, is rated at a 60 percent disability rating since September 1, 2011. The evidence shows that the Veteran has an estimated workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope; evidence of cardiac hypertrophy on echocardiogram; and left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 50% to 55%. The Board finds that these findings warrant a higher 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease was granted at 10 percent from August 31, 2010 to March 31, 2013. After that period, the rating was increased to 30 percent effective April 1, 2013.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, COPD, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and left eye disability.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened and granted. His IHD is presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with hypertensive renal disease, status post myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure is rated at 100% disabling. His hypertension is currently evaluated as 10% disabling.