Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Board finds that the service-connected asbestos-related lung disease with pleural plaques and coronary artery disease did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's death was caused by myocardial infarction due to hypertensive heart disease and hypertension. The Board finds that the service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to cause the Veteran's death, as evidenced by the treatise evidence and VA medical opinion.

The Board denied reopening the service connection claim for a heart disability and awarded service connection for asbestosis, but did not assign an effective date earlier than November 26, 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. However, the Veteran's diabetes mellitus does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not necessitate regulation of activities.

The Board found that the cause of death, atherosclerotic heart disease, was not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and there was no evidence of full-body exposure to mustard gas during service. The claim for service connection for the cause of death was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations and issuance of a Statement of the Case on increased rating claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, which is presumed to have been incurred during service due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension, as well as incomplete VCAA notice.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, presumed to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service, contributed substantially or materially to cause his death. The Board finds that this disability is service-connected for the purpose of awarding death benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating of hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for further development, including medical opinions on the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information provided by VA in its request for verification of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service records and a search with JSRRC are required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD or chloracne.

The Board found that the Veteran's lay testimony, corroborated by medical opinion evidence, supported a finding of service connection for cardiovascular disease, diagnosed as coronary artery disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology. The diagnoses were not established during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, depression, a heart condition, and hypertension.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension are granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's diabetes was granted service connection effective October 20, 2006, with a rating of 40 percent.,Coronary artery disease was granted service connection effective May 10, 2006, with a rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is now a listed disease associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents in Vietnam, and may be presumed to be related to such exposure in service.