Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting rheumatic heart disease did not increase in severity during his periods of active duty and was presumed to have existed prior to service. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder is related to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a heart disability, amoebic dysentery or Giardia dysentery, left and right ear hearing loss, hypertension, GERD, gout, degenerative joint disease of the knees, and spondylolisthesis of L4-5. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to grant service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The remaining issues of increased rating for hypertension, service connection for diabetes mellitus, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability are referred back to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evidentiary development due to missing service treatment records and hospital records, as well as incomplete medical history documentation. The Veteran is requested to provide access to his VA medical records and any relevant private medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records and VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder and hypertension did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of discharge from active service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease with an old interior wall infarct results in a METs level of 7 or greater, but does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. The Veteran has also been granted service connection for other conditions and is currently employed.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for coronary artery disease, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during his military service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Type II diabetes mellitus and related conditions, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and left knee instability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure as a helicopter pilot, while his tinnitus is considered at least as likely as not caused by this same noise exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appellant contends that her husband's service-connected PTSD caused or contributed to his overall decline in health, including heart problems and cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected dysthymia and depression. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran had ischemic heart disease, which led to his cardiac arrest and death. Given the presumptive exposure to herbicides in service, he can be granted service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not etiologically related to his period of service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection based on a service-connected disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by his service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and therefore, denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and a psychiatric disorder due to his failure to appear for VA examinations. The case is now pending again with the RO/AMC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of all submitted evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service or service-connected rheumatic heart disease, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral artery disease of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for CAD, DMII, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable rating criteria.,The Veteran's initial rating for left eye disability has been denied due to lack of evidence showing restricted diet or regulation of activities. The current 30 percent rating is maintained.,The Veteran's ED condition does not warrant a compensable rating as his erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for any specific rating under applicable regulations.