Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all issues, including service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus or a heart disorder that is related to his service, including as due to participation in Project 112. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction did not have their onset in or were aggravated by any period of ACDUTRA, and thus denied service connection.

The Veteran's residuals of myocardial infarction with coronary artery bypass grafting have been characterized by normal left ventricular function, an ejection fraction of no less than 60 percent, and no evidence of congestive heart failure. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable rating schedule have not been met.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for asbestosis, coronary artery disease, headaches, visual disorder, and cervical spine disorder were denied. The claims were withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravates his heart disease, and thus grants service connection for heart disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, to include as secondary to PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice and further development.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital from September 27, 2007 to September 29, 2007 are denied as the treatment was covered by Medicare.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in its analysis and for compliance with the statutory duty to assist. The Veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease, claimed as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, is now before the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his last months of service were characterized by depression and that this condition contributed to his suicide.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disability, including as secondary to PTSD, and hypertension is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of new regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, depression, fatigue, memory loss, heart disorder, and skin disorder have been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease due to potential issues with the examination report, including whether his diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his hypertension. The AMC is also instructed to obtain additional medical records from various facilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including heart disease, stroke with left-sided weakness, left visual impairment, left auditory impairment, thyroid dysfunction, and seizure disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's presumed service-connected cerebrovascular accident (stroke) caused his death, and therefore service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of death due to atherosclerotic heart disease, but the case is remanded for further development and an opinion from a VA physician regarding whether there is a 50 percent probability or greater that the Veteran's death was related to his period of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease and emphysema have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disability, and prostate disability. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service or any aspect thereof.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and coronary artery disease due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions.