Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to PTSD are all denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions and noted that the Veteran did not provide credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities have been remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's gastrointestinal and heart disorders are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's mitral valve disease, which led to heart replacement surgery, is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease and malignant skin neoplasms are presumed to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's right eye diplopia, allergic rhinitis, and benign skin neoplasm (actinic keratosis) are granted service connection.

The Veteran's dementia with depression and vascular disease is rated at 100 percent since June 2, 2008. The erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus warrants a compensable rating. Service connection for coronary artery disease was denied. The Veteran's chronic ulcer disease is not service connected. A higher level of special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of one eye is granted. Diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is rated at 100 percent since May 29, 2000.

The Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service. The Board found no evidence of these conditions in service or for many years after discharge.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The appeal is dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center from March 18, 2008 to March 20, 2008 are granted as the services were rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at St. Mary Medical Center from February 13, 2005 to February 15, 2005 is denied as the services were not rendered in a 'medical emergency' and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease and status post coronary artery bypass graft, finding that the Veteran's conditions are likely to have had their clinical onset during his period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status. His conjunctivitis is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. Service connection is denied.

The case is being remanded for further examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss, heart disease, ulcer disease, gastrointestinal disorder, and hypertension. The issues of service connection are also pending.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in a location where herbicides were used, and thus could not establish exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for diabetes mellitus, type 2; coronary artery disease; and peripheral vascular disease were denied as they are not related to service or any service-connected disability.