Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, post-coronary bypass graft, is currently rated at 30 percent and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the Appellant, and hence the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is found to be aggravated by type II diabetes mellitus, and service connection for this condition is granted. The heart disorder claim remains pending due to the proposed new presumptions of service connection based on Agent Orange exposure. The hypertension claim also remains pending.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected varicose veins.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and the relationship between service-connected conditions and the Veteran's death. The appellant must be provided with proper notice tailored to her claim for VA dependency and indemnity compensation, including a listing of previously service-connected disorders and the evidentiary requirements for service connection based on a condition not yet service connected.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or any other service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he does not have a current psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining the Veteran's service personnel records to determine if he served in Vietnam and for re-adjudication of the claims regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and TDIU. The Board has determined that these claims are inextricably intertwined with his pending service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA physician's opinion regarding whether stress associated with service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, obesity, and bilateral knee disorders on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for coronary artery disease is also granted as it is proximately due to the Veteran's obesity.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected rheumatic heart disease, currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The RO continued the Veteran's 30 percent evaluation based on a limitation of METs level due to nonservice-connected vestibular disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board also found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's current condition to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on a confirmed in-service stressor and continuity of symptomatology. The other issues are addressed below.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease and low back pain was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that neither the Veteran's military service nor his service-connected bilateral lower extremity neurovascular disorder caused or contributed to his death. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was respiratory failure, COPD, fractured cervical vertebra, and vascular dysfunction-atherosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion from the VA examiner to clarify the diagnoses and etiology opinions provided in her September 2008 and November 2008 addendum reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and hepatitis C due to procedural and evidentiary development issues. The Veteran is also seeking a hearing on his claims of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound, and whether a May 1995 rating decision was clearly and unmistakably erroneous (CUE) in denying service connection for PTSD.