Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, including due to ischemic heart disease as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have rendered him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain a rationale from Dr. Pustilnik regarding his opinion that traumatic brain injury significantly contributed to death but was not related to the cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart condition, diagnosed as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not attributable to his service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure, and secondary service connection for various disabilities were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again due to new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected heart disability prior to December 2010 is denied. The evidence does not establish the Veteran met the criteria for a higher rating in excess of 30 percent due to his service-connected heart disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not incurred during service, as there is no evidence of a diagnosis or treatment for these conditions while on active duty. The Board concluded that the current diagnoses are less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 25, 2008, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (ischemic heart disease) status post triple bypass is denied as his claim was received on or after May 3, 1989 and before August 31, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have cardiovascular disease or ischemic heart disease at the time of his entrance examination, and there is no evidence showing a pre-existing condition aggravated by service. The current cardiovascular disability was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a search for the October 2008 VA examination report. The service connection for coronary artery disease issue is also inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim and must be adjudicated first.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any non-replaceable missing teeth due to loss of substance of body of maxilla or mandible, and thus his dental condition claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) is not related to his military service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's shell fragment wound residuals of the right and left thighs have resulted in moderate muscle damage/impairment, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for coronary artery disease and hypertension were granted, with the CAD rating being reduced by the aggravation baseline. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current disability is likely to have been incurred in service. Service connection was also granted for a heart disability, but not for a dental disorder.

The Veteran's death was caused by esophageal varices due to liver disease, but the Board is remanding for an opinion on whether diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease contributed to or caused his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current mental health issues were not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.