Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2012

The Veteran's valvular heart disease was granted an increased disability evaluation to 60 percent effective April 26, 2011. The claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is currently pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, arteriosclerotic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema, was not related to his military service. The evidence does not show any in-service occurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, varicose veins, bilateral legs, heart condition, and bilateral eye disability. The Veteran did not have current diagnoses of these conditions at the time of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of adequate reasoning in the August 2009 VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's myocardial infarction was incurred during his period of ACDUTRA from September 9, 1996 to September 20, 1996. The case will be remanded for a new VA opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's current heart condition with shortness of breath is considered incurred during his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected CAD and hypertension do not warrant an extraschedular rating as their symptoms are reasonably encompassed by the assigned schedular ratings.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of in-service treatment or continuity of symptoms since service that would support a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a VHA opinion raising issues of service connection for hypertension and heart disease, including as secondary to service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury with loss of part of the skull.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disorder and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, which occurred after a myocardial infarction in 2006, is being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of the etiology of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder, psoriasis, gastrointestinal disorder, blepharospasm, and coronary artery disease are not related to his military service or any incident thereof. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD but denied onychomycosis. The remaining claims are remanded to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and a heart disorder are also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart condition was not incurred in or aggravated during military service and is not related to service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for pneumonia, both lungs, was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision could be made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease, including coronary heart disease and hypertension, is related to his service. The preexisting hypertension was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be fully adjudicated. This includes obtaining VA treatment records and any medical and legal documents pertaining to the Veteran's application for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.

The Veteran's disability rating for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, was reduced from 60 percent to 30 percent effective November 1, 2008. The reduction was proper as the current condition warranted a lower rating.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, which is presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. Service connection was denied for a skin disorder and left eye disability.

The Veteran's death was caused by end stage heart disease, due to cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease. Diabetes contributed significantly but did not cause the death. The service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.