Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's lung, sleep, heart, skin, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy claims are dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) has been denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was previously granted, but the Veteran is seeking a higher initial disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and concluded that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left foot scars, low back disability, neck disability, coronary artery disease, skin disability, osteomyelitis, and PTSD due to incomplete records from the Veteran's National Guard service. The Veteran needs to provide specific documented confirmation of the unavailability of the missing records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right Achilles tendon injury, diabetes mellitus, fatigue, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder (tachycardia), post-traumatic migraine headaches, sleep apnea, and vasovagal near-syncope, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for heart disease, lung cancer residuals, Horner’s syndrome, thoracic nerve disability, and loss of ribs secondary to lung cancer residuals due to exposure to burn pits during service. The case is being sent back for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of his service-connected conditions, specifically pulmonary embolism and prostate cancer. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart condition and pain in the left chest that radiates up into the shoulder and back have been granted. The heart condition claim was reopened due to new evidence, while the pain claim was granted based on the Veteran's reported symptoms.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected rheumatic heart disease, which materially contributed to his cause of death (CAD and CHF). The appeal for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as the claim is moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease (CAD) is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for right leg disability, bilateral eye disability, and heart disease. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that there is insufficient evidence to place the evidence in equipoise as to whether he suffers from this condition related to his military service. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service but does not have a current diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal for high cholesterol has been withdrawn and dismissed.,The claim for an earlier effective date for CAD is denied as the earliest available effective date is October 4, 2011.,Celiac disease was not related to service.,Uncontrollable shaking of the head (benign essential tremors) was not related to service.,Peripheral neuropathy and allergic dermatitis were not related to service or presumed herbicide exposure.,Service connection for allergic dermatitis is denied as there is no evidence of a malignant tumor of the skin.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer and an increased rating for ischemic heart disease. The claim for bladder cancer is reopened, but the issues of service connection are still pending as they have not been decided yet. The issue of an increased rating for ischemic heart disease remains under review.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agent during his active duty service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertensive heart disease as secondary to service-connected hypertension was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher initial rating for the same condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but dismissed the claims for bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, low back disability, skin disability, left ear abnormal growth, heart disability, and stroke.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition, including depression, is service-connected due to its aggravation by his pre-existing conditions.,Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II, are granted as they were aggravated by the Veteran's pre-existing psychiatric conditions.