Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a heart disorder and peripheral neuropathy, lipoma, rashes, diabetes mellitus, and residuals of a laminectomy, all due to in-service herbicide exposure. The effective dates were not addressed.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a shrapnel wound of the buttocks has been denied. His claims for heart disability, pes planus, cold weather injuries of the feet, and residuals of a shrapnel wound of the right foot are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease (including diagnosed coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic heart disease, and myocardial infarctions), which are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. These conditions contributed to his untimely death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart condition, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorder were denied initially. However, the case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and a claim of entitlement to service connection for heart disease has been referred to the AOJ. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have coronary artery disease or hypertension during his periods of active duty, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea.,However, the Board denied service connection for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident with right side weakness as not related to service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from the Miami VAMC and Dr. Jarrtte Wentworth, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition remains pending.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim and determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's death and his presumed in-service herbicide exposure, which contributed to his death. The service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease first manifested during active service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disease did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service. The Board also determined that the Veteran's current heart disease is not proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, combined with presumed exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam, are found to have contributed to his death. The Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for coronary artery disease. However, the claim remains denied as there is no causal relationship between the current condition and active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran died in October 2004 due to multiple conditions, including pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, and cerebral vascular accident. The cause of death was not attributed to a service-connected disability or any event during active service.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, osteoarthritis of the shoulders, elbows, wrists and knees, and cervical spine disability. The Veteran did not have any evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic esophageal carcinoma, with coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus contributing to his death. The Board finds that the appellant has provided credible testimony supporting her claim that the Veteran served in Vietnam during active service, which is necessary for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e). As a result, the cause of the Veteran's death was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's heart disability and hypertension are presumed to be caused by his in-service herbicide exposure. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment reports and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a blood disorder, heart disease with hypertension, and kidney disease. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of the conditions during his military service.