Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and tinnitus, do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 5, 2013.

The Board has granted a maximum possible 100 percent schedular rating for the Veteran's paroxysmal tachycardia (heart disability) due to the July 2012 pacemaker implantation. The claim for TDIU, including on an extra-schedular basis, is also granted.

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

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease, which was denied in a September 2011 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for a clarification of whether the Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment solely due to his service-connected disabilities. The RO should obtain a clarifying opinion from the examiner who conducted the December 2010 VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on any issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and any outstanding VA or private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease, status-post myocardial infarction and stents has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security disability records and conducting a social and industrial survey.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, including due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The case will be returned to the Regional Office (RO) in Louisville, Kentucky, where a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge should be scheduled.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO determined that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claim for a heart disability. The issues of increased rating for sarcoidosis, separate ratings for co-existing respiratory conditions, and earlier effective date for sleep apnea are also addressed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted.,Service connection is also established for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include mood disorder, schizophrenia, depression, a paranoid disorder, psychotic disorder, anxiety, and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and determining the nature and etiology of any neck and back disorders. The specific issues on appeal include reopening service connection claims and seeking VA compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and employment history.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for any of the claimed conditions due to lack of in-service exposure and insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to in-service exposure to chlorinated wells and human waste.

The Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are granted service connection, with the latter being linked to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with a Court decision, including consideration of evidence received since the July 2011 rating decision regarding exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 and heart disability, finding no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. The Veteran's claims were not granted as the conditions are not presumed due to service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as to adjudicate his claim for service connection for coronary artery disease. The Board will also consider the issue of service connection for hypertension.