Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Board has decided to remand the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ocular hypertension, and heart disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to Agent Orange or other potential causes.

The Veteran's residuals of myocardial infarction with coronary artery disease are causally related to his active duty service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's chronic coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction residuals, and coronary artery bypass graft residuals, finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and her case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine conditions, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hearing loss, dacrycocystitis, and other conditions, are of such severity that they preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's death was caused by coronary artery disease, which is service-connected. The Appellant seeks DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to the cause of death being related to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are pending. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss is also pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's angina pectoris and heart disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may cardiovascular disease be presumed to have been incurred as a result of such service.

The Veteran's heart condition with pacemaker was not incurred in or aggravated by his service, nor may it be presumed to have occurred therein. The Board found no medical evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that it is not related to his active service or to his service-connected rheumatic fever.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation/flutter is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and there is insufficient evidence to establish a low back disorder as related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have not been found to be related to service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional information and conduct further examination regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease and coronary artery disease, which are claimed as secondary to or aggravated by his service-connected allergic rhinitis and tonsillitis. The appeal will be returned to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected lung disease, which began in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU were denied. The RO/AMC assigned a 30 percent evaluation for coronary artery disease effective April 22, 2008.

The Board found no evidence of a heart condition during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to assess his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation given his service-connected disabilities. The peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities and diabetes mellitus type 2 matters are not in appellate status.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board also granted service connection for hypertension as a result of the presumptive Agent Orange exposure, but denied service connection for erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the Huntington, West Virginia RO.

The Board denied the motion to revise or reverse a previous decision on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The Board found that the new evidence did not meet the criteria for being considered material, as it was not relevant to the presumptive conditions listed for herbicide-exposed Veterans. Additionally, there was no duty to assist failure in connection with the October 2004 decision.