Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, skin disability, tinnitus, and others, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from July 2, 2003 to July 25, 2007. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The appeal for service connection of a bilateral knee disability is dismissed. The appeals for service connection of lumbar spine, stroke residuals, COPD, heart disability, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are remanded.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, lung condition (also claimed as asbestosis), sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy, Barrett's Esophagus/gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis/celiac disease, and neurological effects (restless leg syndrome).

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease as the evidence did not show exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, coronary artery disease (CAD), cataracts, colon cancer, left foot pain, and PTSD due to potential service connection issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for DIC benefits and a burial allowance due to procedural issues, but also noted that service-connected coronary artery disease may have contributed to the Veteran's death. The appeals are being considered together.

The Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are granted as directly related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service.,The Veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as presumptively related to his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.,The cause of the Veteran's death, which was sudden heart failure with underlying causes including COPD and renal insufficiency, is found to be due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of qualifying conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), finding that there was no evidence of a heart disability during service and insufficient medical evidence linking it to his service. The long period without problems after discharge is considered against the claim.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the Board found no evidence to support presumptive exposure to herbicides. The cause of death was attributed to cardiopulmonary arrest with underlying atherosclerotic heart disease.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, a heart disorder, renal dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction as the Veteran's duties at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base did not place him on or near the base perimeter and he was not otherwise exposed to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's heart disorder, as well as whether obesity is a substantial factor in causing his heart condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since August 28, 2008. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability but not total social or occupational impairment. Service connection for a heart disorder and residual deficits status post stroke are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an enlarged prostate and heart disease due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's enlarged prostate is not related to his service or a service-connected disability, while the heart disease claim requires further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to the presumption of herbicide exposure near the DMZ during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, heart disabilities, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and actinic keratosis due to potential service connection issues.,Additional development is needed including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide exposure are granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and established presumptive service connection for these conditions.