Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Board has found that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder should be remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and review the case.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the underlying service connection claim for a heart disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus, has been resolved in favor of the Veteran with the grant of service connection on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death. The preponderance of evidence indicated that other factors, such as hypertension, chronic alcohol abuse, hyperlipidemia, and morbid obesity, were more likely causes of the Veteran's coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung, heart, kidney, and prostate disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's CAD is presumptively associated with his in-service herbicide exposure and grants service connection for this condition. The claims for chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and malaria residuals are denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support their association with service.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II; vertigo; and heart disorder are not related to his active service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for heart disease due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, further development is needed as a VA examination is required to determine if the current heart condition is related to service.

The Board has dismissed the claim as the Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease was granted due to herbicide exposure pursuant to Nehmer v. U.S. Veterans Admin.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, as presumptively due to inservice exposure to herbicides. The other claims are denied.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, sleep disorder, heart disorder, and eye disorder. The Veteran's claims were denied as there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected disabilities or due to a condition related to his in-service treatment. The appellant must be provided with proper VCAA notice and any relevant medical records should be obtained.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted as it is presumed to have been incurred in active service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for peripheral vascular disease, residuals of tracheostomy, and acid reflux are not addressed.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, was found to have been incurred in service.,Bilateral hearing loss was also determined to be related to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective May 11, 2010. The VA examiner found the Veteran to have occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective relationships.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining new VA examinations to address his heart disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and issuance of a statement of the case on issues related to his diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and retinopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total rating were denied. The left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, with separate ratings for limitation of flexion and ACL deficiency.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for coronary artery disease and PTSD was granted, with an initial rating of 10 percent each. The RO also denied a higher rating for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Rockingham Memorial Hospital on July 9, 2009 is granted as the treatment was for a condition that would have been considered an emergency by a prudent layperson.