Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, and coronary artery disease are not related to service or any service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and retinopathy were denied as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before a local RO hearing officer, and not a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims of COPD, heart disability, and diabetes mellitus were denied as they are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition secondary to hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart disorder, finding that her pre-existing congenital condition was aggravated by military service. The shin splints claim is remanded due to a need for further examination and assessment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed heart disabilities, including atrial fibrillation, mitral regurgitation, and hypertension, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and degenerative joint diseases of the left ankle, right knee, and lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 50% rating, but not the higher 70% rating required for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his heart disability and degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding the onset of these conditions in relation to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed to make a decision on the appellant's DIC and cause of death claims, including obtaining medical records from SSA and reviewing the service member's medical history for any potential service connection.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, including whether it was aggravated by his 1991 service or related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records from Emporia and any private medical records, as well as his Social Security Administration disability records. The Veteran will also be provided with new VA examinations for his hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature of his unemployability claim and a new service connection claim for diabetes mellitus. The RO/AMC will adjudicate the diabetes mellitus claim first, then re-adjudicate the unemployability claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, coronary artery disease, allergic rhinitis, recurrent skin rash in scalp, neck and back, and fungus infection of feet are granted. The Board finds that the current conditions are likely due to his lengthy active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant is the Veteran's surviving spouse and whether his service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to cause death. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, arthritis, depression, and COPD as there is no evidence of any such conditions during or within one year after his military service. The Veteran's current symptoms are not related to his active duty.