Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's claimed heart condition, as there may be a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease or related conditions. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, both claimed as resulting from herbicide agent exposure. The Board found no objective evidence of herbicide agent use or exposure on Guam during active service.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for a grant of specially adapted housing or special home adaptation is remanded. The Board also refers the Veteran’s claims for service connection for Parkinson’s disease and ischemic heart disease to the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are granted. The appeal as to PTSD is dismissed. An additional remand is ordered for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran is denied entitlement to an effective date earlier than March 8, 2016 for the assignment of a 100 percent disability rating for hypertensive heart disease with ischemic heart disease.,The Veteran is denied entitlement to an effective date earlier than March 10, 2016 for the assignment of a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder.,The Veteran is denied entitlement to an effective date earlier than March 8, 2016 for the assignment of a 30 percent disability rating for balance impairment and shuffling gait as a residual of Parkinson's disease.,Service connection for dysphagia, as a residual of Parkinson's disease, was granted with an effective date of December 18, 2012.,The Veteran is denied entitlement to an effective date earlier than March 8, 2016 for service connection for chronic constipation, as a residual of Parkinson's disease.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the cause of death (sepsis due to bowel perforation) was not a result of VA medical treatment. The Board found that there was no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA in providing care.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by chest pains, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of chronicity and continuity of symptomatology following separation from service or that CAD manifested within one year of separation.

The Veteran's death is due to his service-connected coronary artery disease, and burial benefits are granted at the service-connected rate.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee and shoulder disorders, CAD, and OSA due to new evidence received since final denial of these claims. The Veteran's symptoms have been noted in service records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart disorders, including coronary artery disease and ventricular arrhythmia, based on continuous symptoms since service separation. The decision is based on presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not service-connected as it is not related to his service or PTSD.,The Veteran's valvular heart disease is not service-connected due to exposure of herbicide agents and diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes).,There is no evidence of peripheral neuropathy, bilateral feet in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD has been granted. The initial rating for Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) prior to February 20, 2014 is also granted.,Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea remains pending as a new medical opinion is needed due to the lack of specific analysis regarding its relationship to service-connected conditions and presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TBI residuals do not meet the criteria for service connection due to insufficient evidence of significant cranial or neurological pathology consistent with a TBI.

The Board has restored a 60% disability rating for the Veteran's coronary artery disease, pericarditis, and status post coronary artery bypass graft effective November 1, 2015. The evidence did not show improvement in his condition that would warrant reducing the rating.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to herbicide exposure. The heart disability claim has been withdrawn by the appellant. TDIU remains pending and needs further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right foot cellulitis and heart disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not related to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for CAD, DM, lung cancer residuals, RLE and LLE neuropathy, and OSA have been granted.,Service connection is also granted for prostate disorder and residuals of skin cancer, but additional evidence is needed to determine their relationship with the Veteran's in-service exposure.

The Board dismissed the appeals concerning whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, arthritis, bilateral upper neuropathy, bilateral lower neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease. The appellant's claims were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to toxic chemicals while at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and a heart condition have been denied as there is no direct evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The exposure basis was not established due to lack of herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam.