Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran is granted a 100% evaluation for PTSD effective April 4, 2011. The grant of SMC based on housebound status is also granted effective April 4, 2011. TDIU is granted from November 17, 2009 to February 8, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but the effective dates assigned are May 6, 2011. The initial ratings and effective dates for diabetes mellitus, CAD, and diabetic retinopathy were also established.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is found to be due to herbicide exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and avascular necrosis of the right hip are also granted as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disability and to adjudicate a secondary service connection claim for PTSD.

The Board has ordered further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while serving at Udorn RTAFB in Thailand. The appeal is now remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right shoulder disorder, back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, allergies, heart disorder, acne, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 22, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, difficulty falling and staying asleep, night sweats, hypervigilance, heightened startle response, extreme social anxiety, depression, loneliness, lack of interest in usual activities, irritability, explosive anger, suicidal and homicidal ideations. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has resulted in a 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The case will be processed again with the appropriate scheduling of a hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart block, which is considered to be aggravated by the Veteran's active service. The claim for coronary artery disease, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and left diastolic dysfunction are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The appellant is now the claimant and her appeals for increased ratings, earlier effective dates, and service connection have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least in part due to his service-connected coronary artery disease, and thus grants service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder and right shoulder disorder, reopening the skin disorder claim based on new evidence. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to have started during his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to PTSD. His CAD is rated at 60 percent, and he is granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent for the left knee due to symptomatic removal of cartilage.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for hypertension and service connection for alcoholism and heart disability. The claim for service connection for alcoholism was denied due to willful misconduct, while the claims for hypertension and heart disability were denied as there is no clear evidence of a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address issues related to service connection, including a VA examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for heart disease, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The case is being remanded for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for bronchial asthma, back disorder, plantar wart of the right foot, hypertension, heart disorder, and tinnitus due to a finding that the character of discharge barred VA benefits. The remaining issues are being remanded.

The Board has determined that none of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities played a causal role in his death, and there is no evidence to support the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.