Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2013

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to ventricular fibrillation, due to congestive cardiomyopathy, due to aortic stenosis and insufficiency, due to hypertensive heart disease. The Board found that the service-connected congenital bicuspid aortic valve did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and to schedule him for a VA examination to determine if his current heart disorder and any chronic blood disorder are proximately due or aggravated by the septicemia associated with his liver abscess in 1975.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for scars of the sternum, left and right lower extremities secondary to coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and its relation to service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a right hip disorder, left hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, heart disorder (to include hypertension), or left lower extremity sciatica and numbness that were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to reconsider the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for depression, anxiety, and a bilateral knee disorder. The new evidence submitted since the previous denial includes relevant official service department records not previously considered. As such, these claims are reopened. However, no new evidence was found that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder or tinnitus.

The Veteran's valvular heart disease is found to be causally related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's death was not determined to be service-connected, but the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied due to lack of total disability rating.

The Veteran claims that his hypertension is related to his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus. The VA examiner's opinion was not based on a review of the complete evidence, and additional medical examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not exposed to Agent Orange during service, and therefore, does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease or diabetes mellitus. As such, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, as he is able to function normally without the requirement for such assistance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issue of TDIU is also considered.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain any form of substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities: coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative disk and joint disease of the lumbar spine. The Board finds that he meets the threshold requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Veteran seeks service connection for ischemic heart disease, claiming it is related to herbicide exposure during his service in Guam or Vietnam. The Board has not verified the Veteran's claimed exposure and remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate his claim of service connection for heart disease, which may affect his TDIU determination. The case will be returned to the Board after this initial adjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The initial compensable evaluation for psoriasis is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination.

The Veteran does not have a current heart condition related to active service or that was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, and the claim is denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.