Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC benefits due to lack of evidence showing a causal link between his service-connected disabilities and his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus prior to July 29, 2009, or a rating higher than 40 percent since then. Service connection was also denied for PVD, CAD, and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease, status-post myocardial infarction, is currently rated at 60 percent from January 5, 2010 onward. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current heart condition causally or etiologically related to active military service or to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction and angioplasty and stent placement is granted. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU remains pending.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as service connection for a cardiovascular disability to include high blood pressure and heart condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, circulatory problem (to include a heart disorder), and foot and leg disorders were denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides/Agent Orange or any other form of presumptive service connection. The Veteran was not found to have served on land in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease as due to exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The Veteran's current diagnosis of coronary artery disease is considered presumptively related to his Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic heart disorder, including her heart murmur, is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset and causation of her current conditions.

The Board granted service connection for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and an increased rating of service-connected PTSD to 70 percent disabling. The Veteran is also currently service connected for tinnitus, rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was due to ischemic heart disease, which is presumed service-connected based on his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam. As such, the appeal for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's sick sinus syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, may not be presumed to have been incurred during service, and was not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for congestive heart failure with idiopathic cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease is granted, as the conditions are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The secondary service connection claim for PTSD and/or scar, shell fragment wound, of the right arm is also granted.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his coronary artery disease. The propriety of the reduction from 100 percent to 30 percent rating will also be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes and heart disorder are not related to his service, specifically exposure to Q-fever during Project Whitecoat. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cardiovascular disability did not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and has not otherwise been shown to be related to service. Therefore, service connection for a cardiovascular disability was denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension, status post pacemaker implant and aortic valve replacement were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his cardiovascular disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a heart disability has been granted, with the effective date set at October 12, 1994. The Board found that the Veteran continuously prosecuted his claim from this date up to the submission of a timely notice of disagreement in October 2000.