Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU were not substantiated by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus type II and coronary artery disease are granted as they are presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure during his service.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute myelogenous leukemia, but the Board finds that his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus had a material influence in accelerating his death. Therefore, the cause of his death is considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the Veteran's service in Vietnam and to determine if his abdominal aortic aneurysm is related to service, including his October 1967 treatment for sharp pain in his lower abdomen. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer contributed substantially or materially to his death from hepatocellular carcinoma. Additional records are needed from the Veteran's hospital stay at Riverview Regional Medical Center.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a heart disability or lung disability that is etiologically related to his active duty service and therefore, denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of his claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal to have an effective date prior to March 27, 2009 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's GERD and CAD were evaluated at their current levels, with no increase in ratings granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) warrants a disability rating of 60 percent for the entire initial rating period, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a cardiac disability was denied as there is no evidence of any pending claims or diagnoses prior to September 30, 2011.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, which resulted in a workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, does not meet the criteria for an evaluation higher than 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and medical records from a private physician in Wichita, Kansas. An examination will also be scheduled to determine the etiology of his sarcoidosis and any current cardiovascular condition.

The Board denied the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, maintaining that the disability was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's CAD was not incurred in, or aggravated by, active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) is not related to service and is not secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for CAD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is REMANDED for further development.