Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Board finds that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, was not incurred or aggravated in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, including acquired heart disease, COPD, neck disability, back disability, and psychiatric disorder. The reasons were that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's heart disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cause of death, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for cause of death, and entitlement to service connection for hepatitis for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition. The skin disorder claim requires further development as it involves a recent onset of symptoms not previously associated with service.

The Veteran incurred unauthorized private medical expenses for treatment of a heart disorder from September 6, 2006 to September 8, 2006. The Board found that the emergency treatment was necessary due to sudden and severe symptoms, which were not previously addressed by VA. As such, payment or reimbursement is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased disability evaluation for a heart condition were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability, or any link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service records reflect exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam service. Service connection is granted for coronary artery disease due to such exposure, but hypertension is not among the diseases presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypothyroidism and a heart condition, claimed as due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation during service and whether his current conditions are related to such exposure.

The Veteran's death was caused by pneumonia, but there is no evidence linking any of the listed conditions to his service. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death and also denied claims for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran is granted service connection for aggravation of a heart disability and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with headaches prior to November 26, 2007. From that date, he is entitled to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease and sleep apnea, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, was denied. The Board found no medical evidence or opinion suggesting a link between any current conditions and the Veteran's service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected, but denied his claims for coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass surgery due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board found that the cause of death (ischemic heart disease) was not related to service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a search of the Veteran's service records and exposure to chemical and biological agents at Dugway Proving Grounds. Additional medical opinions are also needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and denied aid and attendance or housebound benefits for the appellant. The conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus contributed to the Veteran's death, which was caused by metastatic colon cancer.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not shown to have had onset during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. Service connection was denied.