Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran is granted a higher initial disability rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease prior to August 21, 2010. The effective date remains October 7, 2009.

The Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were not met.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 24, 2009, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a formal or informal claim before this date.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service in the DMZ, was found to have caused his death. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and accrued benefits, finding that no claim had been submitted prior to September 21, 2009. The Veteran died before any appeal of his March 2010 denial of hearing loss could be completed.

The Board found no evidence of a direct or secondary service connection for the claimed conditions, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for heart disorder and COPD, finding that ischemic heart disease is not shown to be related to service or herbicide exposure. COPD was also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including tachycardia, is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine its likely etiology and whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including examinations and further adjudication of issues related to service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the February 2014 examiner. The AOJ will also consider entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD/ischemic heart disease and hyperlipidemia were denied as there is no current disability that resulted from a disease or injury in service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was related to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and a VA examination is needed to determine if his current cardiovascular diagnoses are related to his acute myocardial infarction during INACDUTRA on March 3, 1996.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and hearing loss. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, securing SSA disability benefits records, and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed heart disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and adjudicating his service connection claims. The special monthly compensation claim will be remanded pending the outcome of these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and verifying stressors. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain updated medical records and for a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as atherosclerotic heart disease. The VA clinician concluded that the atherosclerotic heart disease is not related to service or his service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.