Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected coronary artery disease was denied because the evidence did not show that his condition worsened to a severity warranting a 60% disability rating until October 29, 2015. The effective date of the award is March 31, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease is remanded. The case also includes a TDIU claim, which is on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused or aggravated by his service-connected heart disease, and if it was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder is denied as less likely related to service.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure during Vietnam era.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure and current symptoms.,The Veteran's back, knee, and ankle disorders are remanded for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II are each claimed as due to herbicide exposure, specifically from Weslaco, TX in 1971.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease with coronary artery bypass graft residuals and myocardial infarction, and Parkinson’s disease are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service at Nakhon Phanom and Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Bases.,Issues of rating increases and compensation for unemployability or aid and attendance remain pending.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is being remanded for further review due to potential exposure to Agent Orange during his service aboard the USS Coral Sea CV 43.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU since June 3, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be in need of personal assistance from others, and the Board has determined that he qualifies for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether any current heart disability, including coronary artery disease and high cholesterol, is related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for COPD and CAD were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating for COPD prior to January 25, 2016, or for CAD.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral leg condition and a bilateral hand condition, but granted service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder.,The Veteran was also granted TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's heart disability was granted a 30 percent evaluation since November 29, 2012. The condition manifested with more than 4 episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia per year since that date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease prior to June 5, 2014 was denied. From June 5, 2014 onwards, the Veteran's condition is rated at 30 percent due to his workload being greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs and LVEF of 67%. The claim for TDIU was also denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are sufficient to render him unemployable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 30, 2014. The effective date for TDIU is denied as the Veteran met the schedular requirements for entitlement to TDIU after that date.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a heart disorder and remanded it for further development, including verification of service periods and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty in the VA examiner's competence regarding cardiology and a need for further development, including obtaining medical opinions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer residuals, Cushing's syndrome, CAD, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate development of evidence regarding exposure to herbicides, asbestos, ionizing radiation, carbon tetrachloride, and other chemicals.

The Veteran's valvular heart disease was not shown in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether sleep apnea began during service, thus granting service connection for this condition.