Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Board has ordered a new medical opinion to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease (CAD), arthritis, a back disorder, a left shoulder disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and a left leg disorder. The decision found no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after active service.,Service connection was also denied for a right leg disorder. The Board noted that the Veteran had not been diagnosed with any such condition until October 2001.

The Veteran's heart condition, including coronary artery disease (CAD), and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder, are now granted with effective dates of February 24, 2016, for the heart condition and June 20, 2014, for the psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and secondary service connection for hypertensive heart disease due to incomplete records from his in-service hospitalization. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical evidence, including VA treatment records and any relevant private care providers.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's heart disabilities and COPD. The claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The claims for service connection on accrued benefits purposes are being remanded due to the need for additional information and evidence.

The Veteran's CAD, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar spine disability have been granted increased ratings to 60 percent for the entire initial rating period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, finding no evidence to support claims based on VA negligence in a 1987 fall or exposure to toxic materials and radiation during service.

The Veteran's claims for skin cancer, cervical strain, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, which are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetic retinopathy, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been denied.,Service connection has also not been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity or left upper extremity.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is rated at 20 percent and his ischemic heart disease (IHD) post myocardial infarction is rated at 100 percent. The Board has remanded for an examination to determine if the skin disorder is part of the diabetic process.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and colon cancer were not granted at the time of his death, and thus accrued benefits are denied.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) due to the lack of evidence showing cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation, and a left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 50 percent. The Board found that the Veteran’s METs levels were not reliable as they included consideration of comorbid conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and heart condition render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's CAD was granted a 100% rating since March 8, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran became symptomatic upon exertion of 1-3 METs and had a LVEF of at least 40 to 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is denied because his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria, while his nonservice-connected conditions necessitate the need for aid and assistance.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was granted a 70% rating from March 31, 2016. The claim for increased ratings and TDIU is granted.