Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2012

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered in the decision regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of coronary artery disease, and the Veteran's service records do not contain any positive studies or clinical findings to confirm this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of his service in Thailand and exposure to herbicides, securing VA treatment records, and arranging for medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and exposure to tuberculosis were denied as there is no current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of death and his DIC claim.

The Veteran's claims for direct service connection for a heart disorder, including hypertension, and secondary service connection for a heart disorder due to residuals of a tonsillectomy have been denied. The claim for an eye disorder has also been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, hypertension, and heart disease. The claim for tinnitus was granted with a 10% rating.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosed heart disorder and denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus, and finds no evidence of heart disability related to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his employment status and financial income throughout the appeal period, as well as a determination of whether he meets the income eligibility requirements.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout has been granted, and his request to reopen a claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle rash was withdrawn. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date earlier than February 8, 2010 for service-connected coronary artery disease, status-post myocardial infarction is being remanded due to the need for issuance of a Statement of Case (SOC).

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was related to his service-connected hypertension, which contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death.

The Veteran seeks reimbursement for private medical services provided at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center. The case is being remanded to determine if the earlier effective date claim should be resolved first, and then to consider both 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 and § 1728 in determining eligibility for reimbursement.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and private treatment records. The service connection secondary to rheumatic heart disease with aortic stenosis and cardiac murmur issue is also inextricably intertwined and will be addressed as part of the TDIU review.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance of another or at the rate for housebound status is being remanded due to changes in criteria interpretation that make it easier for a veteran over 65 to qualify. The case will be reviewed again after additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension/hypertensive heart disease/hypertensive renal disease and erectile dysfunction, finding that these conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service or a service-connected disability (diabetes).

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.