Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 28, 2009 for a grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is being remanded due to the need for scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to withdrawal of appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus issues. The anterior chest wall scar is rated as noncompensable, with no significant effects on daily activities or occupation.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.,Prior to March 13, 2009, the Veteran's depression was rated at 30 percent. The Board found no basis for an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board denied service connection for lung and heart conditions, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides or asbestos during the appellant's state-side period of active duty. The claims were not decided on a presumption basis.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for epilepsy was reopened and granted. The issue of service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stress fracture of the left knee or tibia, heart disability, and hearing loss was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung cancer and ischemic heart disease are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides in Thailand. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is not etiologically related to his active service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for coronary artery disease was increased to 30 percent effective June 22, 2009. Prior to this date, the condition did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, hip disability, and bilateral knee disability. The claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors.

The Veteran's death is due to Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), which was caused by or as a consequence of pneumonia, and adenocarcinoma. The appellant argues that the cause of death should be related to her husband's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. However, VA must consider whether ischemic heart disease, as a service-connected condition, contributed to his death.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The back condition claim was not reopened, and the initial evaluation for coronary artery disease from November 27, 1996 to September 1, 2005 was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand and therefore cannot establish a claim for service connection based on herbicide exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against finding any direct or secondary service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development regarding whether the Veteran's death is related to in-service asbestos exposure or other service-related factors.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's heart condition resulted in left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 55 percent, which meets the criteria for a 60 percent rating since March 1, 2010.

The Veteran's hypertension, heart disease, and residuals of a CVA are service connected. The cause of the Veteran's death is also service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a 60 percent disability rating for his service-connected myocardial infarction, status post coronary artery bypass surgery with coronary artery disease, pericarditis, unstable angina, and atrial fibrillation (also claimed as hypertensive heart disease) effective November 9, 2011.