Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting medical examinations to address the service connection claims. The case will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including recurrent urethral strictures and multiple other health issues, all allegedly related to exposure to ionizing radiation during military service. The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam during his military service. The initial rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, which is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, has been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, secondary to diabetes mellitus and/or coronary artery disease, remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital was denied due to the lack of VA care within the prior 24-month period. The Veteran is seeking reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728, but his eligibility remains unclear as he has not provided evidence that the treatment was for an adjudicated service-connected disability or a nonservice-connected disability associated with and aggravating an adjudicated service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's heart disability, including ischemic heart disease. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his heart disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim, but the reopened claim is still denied as there is no evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a January 12, 2010 decision denying DIC benefits due to lack of specific allegations and arguments.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disorder, specifically coronary artery disease (CAD), is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's condition had its inception during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease with coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarctions. The issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, currently manifested by coronary artery disease with stable angina, status post coronary artery bypass surgery, is presumed to have been incurred as a result of Agent Orange exposure during his active service in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and confirming exposure to radiation. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is also being examined by a VA examiner to determine its onset in service or within one year of discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease, diverticulitis, diabetes mellitus, neuropathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and broken blood vessels of the toes as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The appeals were based on presumptive exposure to herbicides, but no such evidence was provided.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of a medical opinion from a cardiovascular specialist regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The Board finds that the service-connected lumbar spine disability is likely as not to have contributed materially in producing or accelerating the Veteran's death, and grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's death is presumed to have been caused by ischemic heart disease, which was found to be service-connected due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The appellant's claim for service connection for cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia, and preventricular contractions are causally related to his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.