Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during the Veteran's active duty in Thailand.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to November 10, 2011.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, a heart disability, visual impairment, left leg tumor, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's heart disability, including coronary artery disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, status post myocardial infarction, hypertension, status post coronary artery bypass graft, mitral valve regurgitation, and status post mitral valve annuloplasty, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease is rated at 30 percent effective January 28, 2015. The rating reflects a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea and fatigue.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the evaluation for Ischemic Heart Disease.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was productive of chronic congestive heart failure, dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope with a workload of 3 METs or less, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent from September 22, 2008 to October 7, 2008. A 100% rating was granted for this period.

The Board granted service connection for CAD associated with PTSD and assigned an effective date of December 10, 2004. The Veteran's claim was pending between May 3, 1989, and August 31, 2010, when the regulation adding ischemic heart disease as a presumptive disease due to in-service exposure to herbicides became effective.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease and PTSD.

The Veteran's low back disability is found to be service-connected, and he meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and arteriosclerotic heart disease were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other service connection criteria met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no current diagnosis and noting that the Veteran did not have a disability qualifying for the herbicide presumption. The elements for direct service connection were not shown.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability, claimed as hypertensive cardiovascular disease and/or ischemic heart disease, is being remanded due to potential herbicide exposure during his service aboard the USS Mullinnix in Vietnam.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely notice of disagreement to the September 2011 rating decision denying service connection for ischemic heart disease was received within one year, and thus the appeal is allowed.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding aggravation of heart disorder by service-connected sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant an increased rating based on the severity of his heart condition alone.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were not shown to be related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression and TDIU are being remanded due to the failure to issue a supplemental statement of the case. The claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is also being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA medical opinions and incomplete records. The claims for service connection will be held in abeyance pending the adjudication of the inextricably intertwined claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.