Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) and Parkinson’s disease are granted as due to herbicide agent exposure for accrued benefits purposes.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded, as the evidence is unclear if he had diabetes mellitus, type II prior to death. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine this.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is also remanded and a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if it was related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, chloracne, heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, all claimed as a result of herbicide agent exposure. The decision found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and heart disease as due to exposure to herbicides, finding no credible evidence of such exposure during the Veteran's active service in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and he meets the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions that preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and a psychiatric disability have been reopened. The Board has found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and neuropathy, have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, prostate cancer, kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, and heart disability is granted. The claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection. The claims for prostate cancer and bilateral upper extremity vascular disorders are denied as there is no credible evidence to support the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service at Fort Gordon. CAD was granted 100% rating effective April 1, 2015, but the claim for a higher evaluation prior to that date remains pending. The claims for supraventricular arrhythmia and migraine headaches are denied. The Veteran's chronic otitis externa is not compensable. SMC at housebound rate was granted on April 1, 2015. TDIU was granted prior to December 29, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a bilateral foot, right leg, or left leg disability during his lifetime. The appellant's statements regarding these disabilities are not considered competent evidence as they do not demonstrate medical expertise.,The Veteran was diagnosed with CAD in 1999, which is more than 37 years after his discharge from service. There is no evidence linking the diagnosis to his service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's heart disability is rated at 30 percent from September 1, 2018. The appeal for a higher rating and TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to an inadequate examination. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred during a private chest X-ray on March 10, 2011 is denied because VA did not provide prior authorization under 38 U.S.C. § 1703(a) for the visit.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (heart disability) was not incurred or aggravated during active duty, and its incurrence or aggravation during active duty may not be presumed.,Right lower extremity neuritis and left lower extremity neuritis were not present in service or within one year of service separation, and are not etiologically related to service.

The Board has restored the ratings for coronary artery disease, right lower extremity PVD, and left lower extremity PVD to their previous levels.,The effective dates of these restorations are May 26, 2015, November 1, 2017, respectively.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service as a security policeman at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.,His nasopharyngeal cancer and lung cancer are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their relationship to military service or other conditions. His heart disease is also remanded for an examination to determine its nature and etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for a lymph node condition and remanded the issues of service connection for thrombosis phlebitis, heart condition, and Gulf War exposure. The decision is pending further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for coronary artery disease, psychiatric disability, and TDIU due to issues with evidence and need for further examination.