Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred due to active service exposure to Agent Orange. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and heart disease have been granted service connection, with the heart disease being presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The rating for his hearing loss is at its maximum of 10 percent, while the heart disease has a current evaluation of 10 percent.

The Board is requesting additional development to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and whether a reduction from 100 percent to 30 percent was proper.

The Veteran's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need to obtain information from the Social Security Administration regarding his SSA benefits.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred during active military service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was granted, with a 20 percent rating effective from May 2001.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred from August 30, 2006 through September 7, 2006 was denied as VA facilities were feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for the residuals of his left thumb fracture was denied. The appeal is not about service connection for a heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, to include as secondary to hypertension, were denied. The claim for service connection for nephrolithiasis (kidney disease) was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, and hypertension has been granted. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for COPD is denied, as the Veteran does not have prostrating headaches. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for headaches remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, including coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction with a history of cardiac arrhythmia, congestive heart failure and tricuspid insufficiency. The Board also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart and upper respiratory disorders, as well as a request for updated VCAA notice.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease as the conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Board has reviewed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions and determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's hypertension and heart disease were found to be service-connected, with the heart disease being secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and additional development being required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The psychiatric disability (depression and PTSD) claim remains pending as the nature of the stressor or stressors has not been determined.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service in Vietnam. Service connection for hypertension and basal cell carcinoma are granted based on the presumption of service connection for diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability and a psychiatric disability (depression) as they are not related to service or a service-connected condition.,No initial ratings have been assigned for headaches, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, or radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's single vessel arteriosclerotic heart disease was rated at 60 percent since September 17, 1996. The rating has been maintained and no higher rating is warranted under the criteria in effect prior to January 12, 1998.