Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected poliomyelitis with weakened right lower extremity did not cause his death from arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Board found no evidence linking the service-connected condition to the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, is currently rated at 30 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and analysis regarding whether the Veteran's heart disease is presumptively associated with his presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, is granted. The issue of service connection for hypertension remains pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, bronchitis, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, and eye disorder, all claimed as secondary to mustard gas exposure. The Board found that credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor was not presented, and a diagnosis for PTSD is not shown.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hearing loss of the right ear, and tinnitus. The claim for hearing loss of the left ear is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of service in Vietnam and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The RO found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicide agents during his military service, and thus could not grant service connection based on presumptive exposure. Additionally, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to underlying Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the cause of death and whether the Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumptively associated with his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hypertensive heart disease is denied, and the effective date of his current 60 percent disability rating remains April 28, 1995.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease is related to his service-connected hypertension and grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board found that no new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's heart disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted. The appeal for service connection for diabetic retinopathy has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for an examination and readjudication of his service-connected ischemic heart disease, which may be subject to presumptive service connection based on Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiac arrest, with coronary artery disease being a significant contributing factor. As the Veteran served in Vietnam and is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents, service connection for his cause of death is granted. The claim for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted as the condition is presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Gulf War Agent Orange. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of coronary artery disease and it has been manifested since service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection of arteriosclerotic heart disease and left knee degenerative joint disease, as well as his request for a higher disability evaluation for left knee arthritis. The character of discharge from his second term of service was found to be a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and denied the remaining issues of service connection. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange/herbicides, which supports his claim for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizophrenia, paranoid type has been dismissed due to withdrawal. The Veteran is granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. ¶ 1151 for diabetes mellitus, which was a result of VA treatment. The Board finds that the Veteran's renal disease and coronary artery disease are secondary to his diabetes mellitus.