Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine the severity of his coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation. The TDIU claim is also considered part of this initial rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or automobile and adaptive equipment eligibility.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease was granted, and the current effective date remains from November 14, 2006. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for this condition.

The Veteran meets the threshold criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease. The Board finds that he is unemployable solely due to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during his tour in Panama.

The Veteran's coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, status post myocardial infarction, and obstructed arterial disease of the lower extremities with claudication are etiologically related to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus with end stage renal disease, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic gastroparesis, and coronary artery disease was denied because there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The appeals are not about service connection, but rather the evaluation of his heart disease and back disabilities.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is not service connected, and the Board finds that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic headache disorder was denied as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, cardiac arrhythmia, chronic hypertension and coronary artery disease were also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional service treatment records and a medical opinion regarding his heart disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and SSA disability benefits documents.

The Veteran's heart disability was rated at 30 percent from June 10, 2008 onwards. The Board found that a higher rating of 60 percent was warranted for the period from June 20, 2006 to December 7, 2006.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was rated at 30 percent prior to March 29, 2004 and remains at that level from March 29, 2004 onwards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart condition, claimed as abnormal EKG, and his right ankle disorder are service-connected. The heart condition is considered a direct result of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) during which he was disabled from an injury incurred in line of duty. The right ankle disorder is also considered to have been incurred during ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have a combined rating of 90 percent, with at least one disability rated 40 percent or more. The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's COPD, Heart Disease, Restless Leg Syndrome, and Bilateral Lower Extremity Neuropathy are all found to be related to service.

The Veteran's heart disease, which was service-connected, is considered a contributory cause of his death. As the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is moot due to the grant of service connection for the cause of death, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's fatal cardiovascular disease was not related to his military service and did not find any evidence of a nexus between his service-connected disabilities and his death. The cause of death was attributed to myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension were denied. The claim for service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities was also denied.