Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has granted an effective date of September 1, 2005 for the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation. The propriety of reducing the evaluation of his CAD from 60 percent to 30 percent is also addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism and a heart disability, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to active service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The heart disability is also found to be proximately due to or the result of the service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 22, 2012.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder with PTSD, which was initially rated as 30 percent disabling and later increased to 70 percent effective April 5, 2000, is granted. The effective date for the 70 percent rating remains April 5, 2000.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and an advisory opinion on the relationship between his heart disability and service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Thailand, which would allow for a determination on his claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease based on presumptive exposure. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his ability to work given his service-connected disabilities and an evaluation of his educational and employment history.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has ischemic heart disease. The examiner is also asked to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's July 2012 stroke was caused or aggravated by his ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and heart disease have been permanently aggravated by his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, and thus grants service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease is found to have caused or contributed substantially to his death from respiratory failure due to end stage COPD.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted effective December 19, 2011. The Board also grants a TDIU rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities exclusive of CAD.

The Board denied service connection for high cholesterol and heart condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions do not constitute disabilities for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits were denied across multiple conditions and disabilities. The appeal is not about any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, or other specific bases.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and hypertension. The Veteran's CAD, erectile dysfunction, and headaches are found to be related to his hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor has he been shown to be housebound. Therefore, the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance are not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension are not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disease, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to connect current diagnoses to service.

The appeal is being remanded due to the inextricability of the TDIU claim with other service connection claims. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be adjudicated after a decision on his service connection claims.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective February 27, 2009 due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.