Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition, respiratory disability, and cyst in the left kidney. The evidence did not support current diagnoses or show that any conditions were incurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's claims for colorectal cancer, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary hypertension are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to combustible gasses in Korea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as his dental treatment was provided by non-VA providers on a fee basis, which does not meet the criteria for VA compensation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's PTSD claim and remanded it for further development. The heart disorder claim is also remanded, as well as the tonsillar cancer residuals and heart disorder claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and denied increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities. The Veteran's conditions are currently rated as follows: loss of use of both feet (100%), coronary artery disease (60%), PTSD (50%), arthritis of the lumbar spine (40%), peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (30%), peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (20%), diabetes mellitus, type 2 (20%), compression of the L5 nerve root with numbness in the left foot (10%), and erectile dysfunction (noncompensable).

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability was not incurred or aggravated during his active service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides. The VA examiner opined that it was less likely as not that the Veteran's current heart condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim seeking an effective date earlier than September 14, 1981, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted. The Board confirmed the effective date as September 14, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his SSA records, which may contain relevant evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a travel Board hearing. The service connection claims for prostate cancer and coronary artery disease are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to obtain his complete service treatment records, including those from the Army Reserve Personnel Center and the Alabama Adjutant General Office.

The Board has ordered another remand due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, medications prescribed for it, and his cause of death. The remand also includes an evaluation of whether the Veteran's presumed exposure to Agent Orange contributed to his death.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is permanently aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease and/or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for inhalant allergies and heart disability, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis. The claim for thyroid disability remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and updated treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and a total disability evaluation based on unemployability due to service-connected disorders have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease and migraines.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions of coronary artery disease, hypertension, kidney disease, and hyperlipidemia were not incurred or aggravated by service. The psychiatric disability claim is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable condition under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and to reopen his claim for a skin disability, finding no evidence of ischemic heart disease and concluding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the skin disability claim.