Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service personnel records and private treatment records.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease, but the case has been remanded due to incomplete records and need for clarification regarding the progression of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling new VA examinations and issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC) on several claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides, and the hypertension was not related to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 23, 1994 for the award of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to diabetes mellitus type 2 and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was rated at 10 percent from September 27, 2002, through April 16, 2004. From August 1, 2004, to August 25, 2010, the Veteran's condition more nearly approximated periodic congestive heart failure warranting a rating of 60 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure and an increased evaluation for PTSD are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on a liberalizing law effective October 7, 2004. The effective date is set at April 21, 2011, which is one year prior to the appellant's claim.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for coronary artery disease (CAD) were denied.,A 60 percent rating was granted from June 7, 2010, to January 2, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, coronary artery disease, and hypercholesterolemia due to in-service tobacco use. The claim for cervical spine disability was reopened but not granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute substantially to his death, as there was no evidence linking the heart conditions and PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a higher rating of 50 percent effective October 27, 2010. The earlier effective dates for the Peripheral Vascular Disease were not granted.

From March 3, 2003 to November 30, 2005, the Veteran's CAD was manifested by left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 48 percent and no objective evidence of chronic congestive heart failure.,From December 1, 2005 to May 4, 2011, his CAD was manifested by a workload greater than 7 to 10 METs without objective evidence of less than 3 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to address the nature and extent of his respiratory disorders. The issues of service connection for other respiratory disorders and entitlement to individual unemployability are also being referred.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and injuries, including heart disorder, thyroid disorder, left shoulder and elbow disorders, double hernia, PTSD, right and left knee disorders. The case is being remanded for further action regarding the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is for an earlier effective date prior to January 7, 2009 for DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35. The case must be remanded due to the inextricability of this issue with other pending claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease with left ventricular dysfunction, finding that there was less likely than not a link to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for depression and bilateral knee disability were reopened, but his claim for ischemic heart disease was denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in service.

The Veteran's terminal coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease were due to in-service exposure to herbicides during his military service and were substantial factors in his death.