Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his hospitalization at King's Daughters Medical Center from November 29, 2010 to November 30, 2010 are now covered by VA as the treatment was deemed necessary due to a 'medical emergency' and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications. His combined disability rating has been at least 90% since May 21, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus had onset during his active service and is granted service connection. The issue of ischemic heart disease was not addressed due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154(b).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, hypertension, and hypertensive heart disease. The compensable rating for sinusitis claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, type II diabetes mellitus (DMII), and coronary artery disease (CAD) as directly related to the Veteran's military service. The claims for DMII and CAD due to herbicide exposure are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and assigned a 60% disability rating, effective March 3, 2010. The Veteran's competency to handle disbursement of VA benefits was found to be incompetent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and schedule him for additional examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected cardiovascular and psychiatric disabilities, as well as assess his employability.

The Veteran's hypertension is proximately related to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic renal insufficiency. The Board finds the evidence in relative equipoise and grants service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the claims are no longer before the Board.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a heart disorder or hypertension, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after his military service.,Coronary artery disease was not diagnosed and there is no evidence of ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is granted. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his heart disorder, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, which collectively meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's cardiovascular disorder, claimed as ischemic heart disease, is presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. However, the Board has determined that further medical development is needed to determine if there is a nexus between the current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is service-connected due to herbicide exposure, specifically Agent Orange, during his time stationed at U-Tapao Air Base in Thailand.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease and fatty liver disease. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues as they are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and early hypertensive heart disease, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition did not increase in severity during his active duty service. The Board also found no aggravation of his hypertension by his service-connected psychiatric disability.