Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, the VA examiner needs to consider recent EMG testing and address whether the Veteran's IHD and the coronary artery surgery where veins were harvested in his legs caused or aggravated the pain.

The Veteran's CAD condition warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent, and his TDIU claim is granted due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's TDIU claim as moot from September 12, 2014 and denied it prior to that date due to lack of evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including transient ischemic attack and hypertension, due to herbicide exposure. Additional development is needed to obtain relevant medical records and an addendum opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to service, particularly considering the updated findings on Agent Orange exposure from the National Academy of Sciences.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition, including ischemic heart disease, based on the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty service at RTAFB Ubon in Thailand.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence linking the conditions to service. Service connection for ischemic heart disease is remanded due to uncertainty regarding exposure in Vietnam.,Service connection remains denied for both knees as there is no credible evidence of a link between current knee disabilities and service.

The Veteran's death was caused by severe end-stage COPD with chronic ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicides. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and dismissed the DIC claim as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and incomplete efforts to rebuild the claims file. The Veteran is asked to provide any copies of documents he received from VA prior to November 2011, specifically decisional documents.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease has been denied.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder is remanded and requires additional examination.

The Veteran's appeal was remanded due to the death of the appellant, and the need for a substitution determination. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) and coronary heart disease is granted.,Service connection for stroke residuals as secondary to DMII is granted. Service connection for loss of sense of smell and taste are denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current mental health condition or heart disability was related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) due to herbicide exposure, as the Veteran served in or near the DMZ during his service in Korea from June 1971 to August 1971. The claim is presumed under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.307 and § 3.309(e).

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected vascular headaches and his hypertension.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent for the rating period prior to May 19, 2015. The Board finds that this evaluation accurately reflects his symptoms and medical findings during this time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his military service. The VA is instructed to attempt verification of these exposures and obtain any relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for coronary artery disease has been withdrawn and dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD has been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, as he was not provided with an adequate VA examination and additional private treatment records were not obtained prior to scheduling him for the examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his diagnosed heart disabilities, including mitral valve repair, which are claimed to be related to in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and nonobstructive coronary artery disease, as well as his claim for TDIU, have been dismissed because he has withdrawn all of these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The AOJ will seek SSA records, arrange for a VA examination, and consider new evidence.