Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2012

The Veteran's heart condition, presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service, is not currently shown. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a heart injury or disease in service, and the Veteran's symptoms have not been continuous since service separation. Therefore, the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and residuals of a stroke are denied.

The Veteran's claim for proteinuria was denied, while his PTSD claim resulted in a higher rating to 50%. The decision is mixed as it addresses both issues.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is service connected as secondary to herbicide exposure, given his presence in Vietnam. The Board finds the Veteran's statements credible and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a heart condition. The appellant's current diagnosis of osteoarthritis does not relate to any arthritis or symptoms she had in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and adjudication of his TDIU claim, including consideration of the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, finding no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after the Veteran's discharge from active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected hypothyroidism did not cause her claimed hypertension, and thus could not support a secondary service connection claim for heart disability. The claim was denied.

The VA reduced the Veteran's disability rating from 100% to 30%, effective August 1, 2008, based on improved cardiac function.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 5, 2009 for a 100 percent rating for valvular heart disease was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability within one year prior to the formal claim on May 5, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to address the severity of his service-connected conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cardiovascular disability is not proximately due to or caused by his service-connected asbestosis or major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an opinion from a VA physician regarding whether his non-service-connected coronary artery disease was associated with and aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and determining whether further attempts to obtain them would be futile.

The Veteran's claimed rheumatic heart disease and aortic valve disease are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of their onset or progression during active duty. The Board finds that the conditions were not incurred in service and are not secondary to any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between any of these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the VA determined that his hypertension and coronary artery disease did not warrant a compensable or increased rating, respectively. The decision also noted that there was no evidence of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's heart disease and whether it is related to service or his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to reschedule his Travel Board hearing at the Portland, Oregon RO on the earliest available date after September 2012.

The Veteran's heart disease is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for his coronary artery disease and hypertension, as these conditions are presumed to be related to his service-connected PTSD.