Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if his service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease alone render him unable to find or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a cardiology examination to assess the severity of his service-connected rheumatic heart disease with residual valvular heart disease as a residual of rheumatic fever.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, enlarged heart, and chest pains. However, upon review of all evidence, including VA examination reports and private medical records, the preponderance of the evidence still does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is necessary to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including VA clinical records from Big Springs VAMC and Dallas VAMC, as well as SSA records.

The Board has ordered additional development to consider the Veteran's claims for service connection, including considering his exposure to herbicides and any direct service connection. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED to the RO for further development and consideration of his claim for service connection for a heart condition secondary to PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus, including whether it was caused or made worse by his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, low back strain, diabetes mellitus, cervical strain, and multiple knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that a TDIU rating is warranted based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining ships logs and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease is found to have contributed substantially and materially to his death due to significant depression, which was likely caused by health problems including the Veteran's coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete documentation and the need to provide notice in accordance with Kent v. Nicholson.

The Board found that the Veteran did not sustain a heart injury or disease in service, and that CAD symptoms were not chronic in service. The Veteran does not have a current disability of CAD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, biceps tendonitis (right shoulder pain), left shoulder disorder, and memory lapses. The effective dates of these reopened claims are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his heart disorder, as well as initial compensable ratings for his bilateral foot disorders. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death, cardiorespiratory arrest due to sepsis and right lung pneumonia, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by his service-connected PTSD. The VA medical reviewer concluded that the Veteran's death was more likely due to the acute new fulminant right entire lung pneumonia, which led respiratory failure, septic shock, and ultimately pulse less electrical activity and death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no pending issues to be decided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, including hypertension, was denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertensive heart disease and cerebrovascular accident are not related to active military service, diabetes mellitus type II, or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and left hip bursitis are both service-connected, with the former granted under new-and-material evidence criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to military service or a service-connected disability.