Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. The Veteran is granted presumptive service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart condition (claimed as costochondritis/Tietze syndrome) that he experienced during his military service. The VA has ordered additional development to determine if the current condition is related to his service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent effective November 21, 2014. Service connection for basal cell carcinoma was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), and emphysema. The remaining issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, compensable rating for hearing loss, and TDIU are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease. The left shoulder disorder claim is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his METs level is reported to be seven or greater and he has not shown congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, neck disability, and back disability are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his Reserve service status and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was rated at 60% since September 2004, based on his ejection fraction of 60 percent and workload of 5 to 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disorder and cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran did not submit a claim for coronary artery disease prior to June 19, 2000. Therefore, the effective date cannot be earlier than that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, and congestive heart failure is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for an eye condition characterized as left eye macular scar and bilateral cataracts secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of evidence regarding his heart condition and leg swelling.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease was rated at 30 percent prior to December 24, 2015 and at 60 percent from that date forward. The Board denied an increased rating for the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorder, vision disorder, back disability, sarcoidosis manifestations, heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disease, sleep apnea, black outs, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has scheduled a hearing for the Veteran, but due to his work commitments, he requested a rescheduled hearing. The case is now remanded for scheduling this rescheduled hearing.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for such benefits.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for chest pain or heart disease.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether the Veteran's service in Da Nang Harbor qualifies as in-country service for purposes of herbicide exposure, and to determine if he is entitled to service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus due to such exposure.