Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his service-connected lung disability and his current heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatic fever, hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, and arteriosclerotic heart disease were denied. The claim for service connection for rheumatic fever was reopened based on new evidence submitted since the July 1981 denial.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and an increased rating for nephropathy. The evidence does not support finding that the Veteran has a heart disorder related to his service-connected diabetes, nor is there sufficient evidence of kidney dysfunction warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease, status post acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft is granted. The claims of entitlement to an increased rating for bigeminal pulse and a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence following hospitalization for a coronary artery bypass graft are remanded.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, including as a result of exposure to herbicides or as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus (claimed as arteriosclerotic heart disease, status post myocardial infarction as secondary to the service connected disability of type II diabetes mellitus), is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction and hypertension, finding that these conditions did not exist at the time of his active duty or were not aggravated by such service.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims of bilateral hearing loss, pinched nerve in left shoulder and arm, skin disability other than vitiligo, tinnitus, CAD, CVD, bilateral eye disability, peripheral neuropathy, and PVD.

The Veteran's heart disability, including coronary artery disease and bypass surgery, is granted as service-connected. The issue of hypertension secondary to PTSD or coronary artery disease remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent. The temporary total disability rating based on need for convalescence following the coronary artery bypass graft procedure is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental condition and hypertension, both claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus, were denied. The claim for higher rating of diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and gastrointestinal issues, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that a medical opinion is needed regarding the Veteran's occupational limitations due to service-connected disabilities, and the case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a compensation and pension examination.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and bilateral cataracts, but the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is about his initial evaluation for arteriosclerotic heart disease, which was previously denied. The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a new medical examination and review of records.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and service connection for vertigo were denied as the evidence did not show that his claimed conditions resulted from VA treatment or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the rate allowed by 38 U.S.C.A. � 1114(r)(2) is granted, as he receives necessary and life-sustaining daily health care with hands-on facilitation by his wife who has received specific training and performs under the direction, guidance, and supervision of a caregiver.

The Veteran's service-connected exposure to herbicides in Vietnam grants him presumptive service connection for a heart disorder, including coronary artery disease. The left shoulder disorder is not granted as secondary to the service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.