Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational background, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary heart disease, status post acute myocardial infarction, was not related to his service-connected left hemifacial spasm and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease and hypertension, are granted due to exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychosis, atherosclerotic heart disease, and lung disability are denied as there is no competent evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and review the issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from East Orange facility dated in 1978-1979.

The Veteran asserts that he has had cardiovascular symptoms since separation from service, and his doctor believes these may be related to the abnormal finding at separation in 1971. The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any identified heart disorder or hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) was exacerbated beyond its natural progression due to VA's carelessness, negligence and error in judgment during his treatment from 1994 until 2002. The decision also granted compensation for depression secondary to CAD.

The Veteran's PTSD, coronary artery disease, and hypertension are all found to be related to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed heart condition and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and to consider all applicable laws and regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have currently diagnosed hypertension or coronary artery disease, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart and gastrointestinal conditions are not service-connected as they were not shown to have had onset during service or be related to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease, hypertension, liver disease (including cirrhosis of the liver), erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus all claimed as due to inservice herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service records do not show any evidence of such conditions during or after service.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The appeal was also denied regarding basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to lack of qualifying service.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), to include as secondary to, or aggravated by, service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II. The case is REMANDED to obtain missing service treatment records and any service personnel records associated with the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).