Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis with proteinuria, anemia, renal osteodystrophy associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease associated with hypertension, hypertension, erectile dysfunction associated with hypertension, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims for hypertension, heart condition, and right foot disability. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the stomach condition claim prior to a decision being made. The Board also found that there was no current respiratory condition and thus did not find service connection for this issue.

The Veteran's accrued benefits, including the aid and attendance allowance due to his sister for his care, are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and residuals of multiple cerebrovascular accidents, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for abrasions on the right side of his body and ischemic heart disease have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical evidence and VA treatment records. The issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is to be reconsidered.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a heart disability or PTSD during service and denied both claims. The cause of death was determined to be ischemic cardiomyopathy due to coronary artery disease, which is not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for clarification on when the disability arose.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to ischemic heart disease, which is now presumed service-connected based on herbicide exposure. The effective date for DIC benefits has been set at August 31, 2010.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and is granting service connection for hypertension and heart disease as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for a video hearing due to the Veteran's failure to report for his scheduled personal hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension began during military service and is therefore granted as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service, and no exposure to Agent Orange. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and for an effective date earlier than April 26, 1999 for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and ischemic heart disease has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal regarding the initial disability rating for ischemic heart disease prior to December 10, 2007, and since October 27, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder; a heart disorder; and a right lower extremity disorder. The low back disorder was granted as service connected on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inextricably intertwined claim for service connection for the cause of death, and the burial benefits claim will be reconsidered after this issue is decided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU.