Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including examinations and the provision of additional medical records. The issues on appeal are related to service connection for heart disease with clogged arteries, a disability rating for lumbosacral degenerative disc disease, and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was related to his active service, specifically a remote head injury with posttraumatic seizure disorder due to blunt force head trauma. The Board finds that this condition is directly related to his military service and grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to determine if service-connected rheumatic heart disease contributed substantially or materially to cause death from the viewpoint of whether there were resulting debilitating effects and general impairment of health.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following all types of substantially gainful occupation, but his nonservice-connected back disability limits his ability to work.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and potential service connection for ischemic heart disease. The issues of increased PTSD rating, TDIU, and service connection for ischemic heart disease are pending.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether hypertension contributed to the Veteran's death, and thus service connection for the cause of death will be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder other than rheumatic heart disease, finding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal for VA benefits based on his character of discharge, finding that there were no compelling circumstances to warrant his prolonged unauthorized absence from active duty.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease with bypass graft is presumed to be related to his herbicide exposure, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board found no evidence of a heart disability, hearing loss, or dental injury that is related to service. The Veteran's claims were denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to any in-service noise exposure.,Coronary artery disease was first manifested more than one year after service and is not related to service. Hypertension was also first manifested more than one year after service and is not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include diabetic nephropathy, coronary artery disease, and various neuropathies, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to coronary artery disease, which is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death based on this presumption.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder, depression, diabetes mellitus type II with peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The conditions are also not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran claims a heart disorder related to his military service. The Board previously denied the claim, but the Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims (CAVC) found insufficient explanation in the VA examiners' and Board's decisions regarding conflicting test results over time. A new VA examination is needed to clarify if the Veteran currently has a diagnosed heart disability and its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disability was evaluated at 30 percent since June 10, 2008. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular accident with expressive dysphasia, pancreatitis with gastroparesis, and coronary artery disease. The evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and there is no evidence linking his nonservice-connected conditions to service.,The appellant did not meet the income/net worth requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD), status post bypass graft, to include as secondary to his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an opinion from a VA examiner.