Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2013

The Board denied service connection for scintillating scotoma, anxiety disorder, and heart murmur. The Veteran's osteopenia was also not granted an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board finds that the Veteran suffered a stroke while on active duty training in June 1998, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for shortness of breath and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's symptoms in service were evaluated as non-organic, and there is no credible lay or medical evidence of current coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as there is no evidence of its onset during his active service and the VA examiner concluded that it is not related to his diabetes.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, tinnitus, heart disease, PTSD, arthritis, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and back disorder. The appeals were based on direct evidence of a link between each condition and service.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of indebtedness for medication co-payments is granted as he meets the requirements for exemption from co-payments due to service-connected ischemic heart disease and exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's right shoulder disorder, heart condition, and/or hypertension were not service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for another examination.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus or ischemic heart disease, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 40%, which does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. However, his service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board is unable to determine if the Veteran's heart disorder was aggravated by service, as there are conflicting medical opinions regarding its onset and progression.

The Veteran's death is likely due to or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease and status post coronary artery bypass grafting, rather than any condition resulting from VA medical treatment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's heart disability, including sinus bradycardia and 1st atrioventricular block, is related to his active service.

The Veteran's heart disorder, specifically paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), is found to be due to a disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and his heart disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and an increased evaluation for his heart condition have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's non-obstructive coronary artery disease is presumed to have been incurred in active service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports a grant of service connection for non-obstructive coronary artery disease on a presumptive basis as a result of herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a heart disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim (symptoms of a heart disability in service).

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung and heart disabilities, as they are not related to his active military service or any other form of exposure.