Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Veteran is granted service connection for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease, presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including coronary artery disease, is presumed to be due to his exposure to Agent Orange during service and granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorder is related to his military service. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination and medical nexus opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to be a result of exposure to herbicides and meets the requirements for service connection.

The Veteran's death was caused by complications of chronic atrial fibrillation, and the Board finds that his ischemic heart disease is likely due to herbicide exposure during service. Service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and low back disorder. The claim for service connection for diverticulitis is pending, as is the claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and a heart disorder, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other conditions that would warrant presumptive service connection. The Veteran's claims were also not supported by direct evidence showing the onset of these conditions during or shortly after his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent since August 1, 2005. The claim for increased initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus remains in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the case to the AMC/RO for scheduling a video conference hearing. The appellant's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease, status post bypass graft, secondary to PTSD is pending.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and coronary artery disease due to additional development being required, including obtaining relevant medical records from the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's valvular heart disease with atrial fibrillation was not related to his service, particularly his in-service gonorrhea infection. The condition was first diagnosed many years after service and is unrelated to any event or injury during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on his employability given his service-connected disabilities and level of education.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were granted. The claim for hypertension was not adjudicated by the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart condition was not incurred in service and not attributable thereto, including through herbicide exposure on a direct basis. The decision is granted due to CUE for failing to stay adjudication of the claim pending the planned presumption for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's death was caused by, or substantially contributed to by, a disability (Ischemic heart disease) incurred in service due to exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart conditions, including coronary artery disease and carotid artery stenosis, are not related to his active service. The examiner noted that a heart murmur observed in 1962 was likely functional rather than indicative of aortic stenosis.

The Veteran's heart disease is presumed to have been incurred in service. Service connection for hypertension and right shoulder disorder are denied. Diabetes mellitus, type II was granted a 10% rating from May 10, 2004 to May 21, 2007, and a 20% rating effective May 22, 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's left knee disorder remains in dispute and requires further examination and review.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, including secondary to hypertension and hypertensive heart disease, is being remanded due to the need for a medical examination. The examiner must determine if there is at least a 50% probability that his obstructive sleep apnea is related to his active service or caused by his pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral vascular disease (attributed to hypertension), and tinnitus are related to his active service. The bilateral leg condition is attributed to the service-connected peripheral vascular disease.