Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, heart disorder, and pulmonary embolism (secondary to the low back disability). The evidence did not establish that any of these conditions had their onset in service or were otherwise related to service.,There is no current diagnosis of a heart condition. The Veteran's post-service treatment records do not indicate any complaints or findings related to a heart disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability, which developed after service and was related to his childhood rheumatic fever, did not meet the criteria for direct service connection because it did not show a permanent increase in severity as a result of military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rate of SMC was granted, and the effective date for this grant was set at May 13, 2014. The Veteran also received an earlier effective date for his entitlement to SMC.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, PTSD, coronary artery disease, connective tissue disorder, tinnitus, and appendectomy, produce sufficient impairment to make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for rheumatic heart disease, with resulting chronic mitral insufficiency, dilated cardiomyopathy, chronic heart failure, and chronic atrial fibrillation and flutter. Service connection for arthritis is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing and issuing a statement of the case on the issue of entitlement to initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected anxiety disorder, not otherwise specified.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 17, 2003, for service connection of coronary artery disease secondary to herbicide exposure. The decision found that the earliest possible effective date was September 25, 2003.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction are not related to his service or any service-connected conditions, leading to a denial of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records, arranging for new examinations, and considering whether staged ratings are appropriate.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disease has been aggravated by his periodontal disease, and the Board grants service connection for treatment purposes.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination of his disabilities and consideration under extra-schedular criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart disabilities are not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development including an addendum medical opinion and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC). The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, PTSD, and coronary artery disease, is now pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, claimed as due to exposure to tactical chemical herbicides, was denied because the evidence did not establish an in-service event or disease related to his period of active service and there is no presumption of exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent rating, effective June 3, 2010. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not met the criteria for a higher initial disability rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service. His hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.,His burn scar of the right thigh is manifested by pain on examination, warranting a 10% rating effective October 23, 2008. He has radiculopathy of the left lower extremity with mild incomplete paralysis and associated symptoms. His coronary artery disease is stable but not productive of specific complications.,The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding TDIU.