Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease have been granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, the maximum available rating.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine is rated at 30 percent based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's initial and subsequent ratings for coronary artery disease with hypertension have been granted, but the appeal is pending. For peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, the Veteran has been granted increased ratings from August 17, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the diabetes mellitus did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, as it only required a restricted diet and insulin.

The Board has granted the initial evaluation of PTSD with depression and denied service connection for a heart disability as secondary to PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current heart disorder, including an irregular heartbeat. The claim of service connection for a heart disorder is therefore denied.

The Veteran's widow was granted accrued benefits for a TDIU rating and an increased evaluation of 60 percent for the service-connected coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, both based on evidence in the file at the time of his death.

The Veteran seeks service connection for cardiovascular disease, including residuals of a myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension pre-existed his military service and was not aggravated by it. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to have been incurred in service, as there is no evidence of its onset within one year post-service discharge.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted as the condition can be presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease secondary to the Veteran's schizo affective type schizophrenic reaction (PTSD), but further development is needed due to the complexity of determining the extent of aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for median neuropathy of the left wrist is denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. His malaria claim is denied due to lack of current diagnosis. The Veteran's heart disease, claimed as related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service, is not granted.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor did any service-connected disability cause or substantially contribute to his death.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease with bypass grafting results in left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 50 percent and METs in the range of 5 to 7. He is now rated at 60 percent for this condition beginning April 21, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's cardiac residuals of rheumatic fever were aggravated by military service and led to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his ischemic cardiomyopathy is presumed to be a result of exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease, including myocardial infarction and severe coronary artery disease with bypass surgery, is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam service.