Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete hearing transcript and the need for a new hearing. The issues of service connection are still pending.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions of coronary artery disease, hypertension, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea and high cholesterol. The Veteran's claim for bilateral varicose veins is pending.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and left ventricular heart failure were not incurred or aggravated in service, nor is it proximately due to his service-connected asbestosis.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to any service-connected disability.,At the time of his death, the Veteran had a combined 70% evaluation for his service-connected disabilities and did not meet the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's bladder and heart conditions were not caused by VA's prescription of Plavix following his August 2008 angioplasty, as the conditions existed prior to this event.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for hypothyroidism was denied prior to August 7, 2007. After that date, his disability was rated at 30 percent.,From August 7, 2007, the Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, service connection for elevated cholesterol, hypertension, and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to additional development needed. The issues will be reconsidered after all relevant evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and analysis regarding his claim of service connection for coronary artery disease. The issue will be reconsidered under the old version of VA regulations due to its pending status.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not due to herbicide exposure or any other event in service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and heart disease can be decided.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychophysiological nervous system reaction.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, currently manifested by coronary artery disease, is presumed to have been incurred as a result of Agent Orange exposure during his active service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's heart disorder (claimed as atrial flutter, with diagnoses of underlying ischemic heart disease/CAD) is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.,Service connection for emphysema is denied because the condition is not shown to be related to diabetes mellitus or any other service-connected disability.,The Veteran's right eye blurred vision is found to be a refractive error (myopia) and not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the Veteran's condition is not related to his service or any service-connected disability. The claim of service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's heart disorder, claimed as coronary artery disease, is found to have been incurred during his active service. The lung disorder is presumed not to have existed prior to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease (claimed as a heart condition), and hypertension (claimed as a heart condition) is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not meet the threshold requirements of impaired hearing for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred in non-VA facilities due to emergency treatment for his service-connected conditions were authorized, as the treatment was necessary and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and hypertension are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The hypertension is presumed to have been incurred during the one-year presumptive period following service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a heart disability allegedly related to exposure to chemicals in service. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion. The Veteran is entitled to a Travel Board hearing at the earliest available opportunity.