Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his heart disorder, lung disorder, and psychological disorder. The decision found no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the updating of medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for updated diagnostic testing and VA outpatient treatment records since October 2013.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the appellant's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and brain condition, including an aneurysm. The case is being remanded to arrange these examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease, providing an opinion on whether diabetes mellitus, type II, is secondary to his service-connected disability, and completing additional development related to his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's death was caused by arteriosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease, which the Board found to be service-connected based on direct evidence. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied as there is no prior claim record that would support such a request.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge and providing appropriate written notice.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private medical records. The Board will also consider whether extraschedular ratings are warranted for the left inguinal hernia and carpal tunnel syndromes, and will determine appropriate effective dates for service connection and increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, myocardial infarction and atherosclerotic heart disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by military service. The preponderance of evidence supports the conclusion that these conditions were due to non-service-related factors such as hypertension, cigarette smoking, inactivity, age, and gender.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis of coronary artery disease or other organic heart disorder that can be attributed to his active duty.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which likely preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have and has not had a diagnosis of a heat stroke disorder, and thus there is no evidence to support service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, including ischemic heart disease, as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence did not establish a current disability or link it to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive medical opinion regarding whether his current condition began during active duty or is otherwise related to his time in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a heart disability related to service. The initial rating claim for PTSD will also be addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disease did not begin during service and is not related to any in-service injury or exposure. As such, service connection for coronary artery disease was denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed and the appeal must be remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied as there was no prior claim or intent to claim service connection before August 8, 2005.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral neuritis. The Board has granted a TDIU for the period prior to March 13, 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability (mitral valve prolapse) and eye disability are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.