Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims will be re-adjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to discrepancies in the ejection fraction readings and a need for updated VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's statements and submitted evidence are timely notices of disagreement with the denial of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The heart disability claim is also remanded due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was received on January 31, 2005. The earliest medical evidence of the condition is from April 19, 2004. Therefore, an effective date of January 31, 2005, is granted.

The Veteran died in July 2009 from natural causes and was buried within days of his death. The appellant submitted an application for burial benefits, but the claim is denied as none of the criteria for payment of nonservice-connected burial benefits under VA regulations are met.

The Veteran's ventricular tachycardia is not service-connected, as it was not present during or immediately after his military service and there is no evidence of a direct connection to service. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinion more probative than Dr. F.J.L.'s speculative opinion.,Service connection for TDIU prior to February 23, 2012 has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's gout, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart disorder did not have their onset during service or due to any incident of service. The claims were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate examinations to determine if any current psychiatric or back disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease and blurred vision are not related to his military service, with the former being less likely caused by an in-service vein-stripping procedure or a service-connected peripheral vascular disease. The latter was attributed to refractive error and presbyopia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further review and examination to determine his eligibility for a total disability rating based on service-connected disabilities, including the recently granted coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for additional development and consideration.,Your claims for service connection have been returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran asserts that he has a heart disorder related to service. The case is being remanded for further examination and clarification of the nature and etiology of any heart disorder.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development due to the need for service personnel records and unit history documentation related to his claimed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated medical records, as his symptoms have worsened.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish exposure to herbicides during service, and thus could not apply a presumption of service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was rated at 10 percent from July 29, 2008 to March 3, 2011. From March 4, 2011, the Veteran is entitled to a rating of 60 percent for his condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his claim for service connection for a heart disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to outstanding medical records and the need for increased rating determinations. The claims file will be reviewed, and appropriate VCAA notice will be provided.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus. However, it was determined that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury, nor is there any evidence suggesting the conditions are related to service, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disorder and hypertension are not related to his period of service, including any exposure to Agent Orange. As such, he is not entitled to service connection for these conditions.