Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2012

The Veteran's widow has been granted service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, due to herbicide exposure during his active duty.

The Veteran does not currently suffer from a heart disorder, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition cannot be established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the etiology of his heart disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of sufficient severity to preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the claim for a TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected heart disability, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and lumbar spine degenerative changes were denied. The Veteran was not granted any higher ratings than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as the conditions at issue are not found to be related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal regarding his claims of service connection for heart disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The claim of service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia was denied due to lack of evidence of exposure to herbicides or service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease, is not shown to have been caused by the VA treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. The most likely causes of his heart disorders are his morbid obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, tobacco usage, hyperlipidemia, inactivity, and high blood pressure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine if his current cervical spine and cardiovascular disorders are related to his military service, including any periods of active duty, inactive duty training, or National Guard service. The VA will verify these periods and provide appropriate examinations to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a heart condition or hypertension during service, and the Veteran's current cardiovascular disorders are not shown to have manifested within one year of separation. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a higher rating for DJD of the fourth and fifth metatarsal bases and the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint of the left foot, as well as a separate compensable rating for DJD of the fourth metatarsal of the left foot.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for a myocardial infarction and associated coronary artery bypass graft were reimbursed by VA as the treatment was deemed necessary due to an emergency situation where no feasible VA facility was available.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chemical burns on the eyes, face, body and legs was denied as there is no evidence of such a condition during or after her active duty. Her claim for coronary artery disease was also denied due to lack of medical evidence linking it to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for spine disorder and coronary artery disease due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The spine disorder claim is being reopened, but a VA examination is needed to determine its etiology. For the coronary artery disease claim, another VA examination is required to assess its likely relationship to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, as secondary to his service-connected pulmonary hypertension. The case is REMANDED for a VA examination and an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current coronary artery disease is related to his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed coronary artery disease (CAD). The appeal is currently in remand status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetic retinopathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Veteran died due to an acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease. The VA did not provide any fault in the care provided, as evidenced by a VA opinion that found no evidence of negligence or error on their part.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation of his right mid calf disability, as well as his claim for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and CAD due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's assertions regarding herbicide exposure have not been supported by relevant records.