Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, heart disability, asthma, and stomach disability. The appeals were not granted as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's depression has been related to his military service and his service-connected tinnitus, warranting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) has been granted, effective from the date of his initial claim. This grant was based on the presumption of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a VA examination to address the issues of service connection for heart disability, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, and renal failure. The examiner will assess whether the Veteran has ischemic heart disease based on his exposure to Agent Orange during active service.

The Veteran's SMC claim for need for regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities has been denied as there is no evidence showing he requires such assistance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's heart disorder is related to his service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and determine if they impact on the decision regarding service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for both the Veteran's back injury and cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and residuals of rheumatic heart disease. The decision is under review.

The Veteran's combined rating is now at 70%, which includes a 50% increase for his service-connected mood disorder with anxiety. The TDIU claim will be remanded due to missing rating decisions after June 2009.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his hospitalization at Gateway Medical Center is being remanded due to the need for additional records and review.

The Board denied the appellant's claim, finding that his character of discharge for the period from November 1968 to June 1970 is considered a bar to VA disability benefits due to persistent misconduct and willful and persistent misconduct.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury and has also granted the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease due to exposure to Agent Orange.,Service connection is established for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart conditions, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, are directly related to his military service. Additionally, the squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is found to be aggravated by his service-connected heart condition.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death is etiologically related to his military service, specifically his documented swollen joints during active duty. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA did not adequately address the appellant's claims for service connection due to asbestos and beryllium exposure during his military service. The claim is being remanded to obtain confirmation of such exposure, as well as additional medical records from private providers and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for organic heart disease and granted it, finding new evidence that supports a link to service. The claims for poliomyelitis and vascular disease were not addressed as they are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's current low back disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to the underlying cause of his death, which was CAD. The Board finds that this contribution is due to the aggravation of his pre-existing CAD by his PTSD.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to exposure to chemical dioxins. The appellant's husband served aboard a ship in Vietnam, but there is uncertainty about his actual presence on Vietnamese soil. Service connection may be presumed based on Agent Orange exposure if he served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War era.