Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to a lack of evidence linking his heart condition to his military service.,The Board also denied DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 as there was no evidence showing VA treatment proximately caused or aggravated the Veteran’s chronic pulmonary heart disease beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's back condition is granted a 20 percent evaluation for the period prior to December 16, 2011. The Veteran's higher evaluations are denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a heart condition. The appeal is remanded due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement filed regarding the denial of service connection for hypertension and diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's disease, a heart condition including atrial fibrillation and hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy as claimed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran was not shown to have been exposed to herbicides at the perimeters of any presumptive RTAFBs.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 5, 2011 for the grant of service connection and a 60 percent evaluation for ischemic heart disease (IHD). The Veteran also received a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 11, 2011. Additionally, the Board granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the statutory housebound rate.,The effective dates for TDIU and SMC were set based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected coronary artery disease and posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence linking any identified causes of death (adult respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, pneumonia) to the Veteran's military service or his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was granted a higher 20 percent rating since June 2017. The appeals for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and ischemic heart disease were withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. The Board finds the Veteran has current diagnoses of non-obstructive coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease, which are included under the definition of ischemic heart disease. Service connection for these conditions is granted as a result of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Other claims related to other disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart condition is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected malaria, and therefore denied service connection for a heart condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart condition, including whether it is related to his service-connected Parkinson's disease or presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's heart disability and his active duty service, including exposure to herbicide agent exposure. The erectile dysfunction claim is also being remanded as it may be related to the heart disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of coronary artery disease (CAD) as it is not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to new and material evidence, and his exposure to herbicides during active duty in Thailand. Service connection is established based on the presumption of exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease as a result of herbicide agent exposure, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is at least in equipoise with evidence showing manifestations to a degree of 10 percent disabling. The motorcycle accident prior to service was not found to be a recognized cause of the condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration of his service-connected stable angina with coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to August 18, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, while his major depressive disorder is granted a 30 percent rating. His coronary artery disease from June 13, 2013 to October 12, 2016, remains at 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to additional disability caused or aggravated by VA treatment in 2014, and for special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance or housebound level.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for a heart disability, including whether he was exposed to herbicides or radiation during his time in Guam. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records and personnel records, as well as conduct additional research through the JSRRC.

The Board has restored the previously assigned disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease, finding that the reduction was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.