Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to January 17, 2008 did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease results in a left ventricular ejection fraction from 50-55 percent, which more closely approximates the criteria for a 60 percent rating under DC 7007. The claim for an increased rating for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board has remanded the case for additional development.

The Veteran's bunions were previously denied in an October 2005 rating decision. The claim was reopened, but new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim.,Service connection for a back disability is granted. Service connection for sleep apnea is also granted as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has found that further action is required due to the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits, and thus the case is being remanded for the RO or AMC to obtain SSA records and any other necessary development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining clarification from Dr. Brager regarding the cause of his colorectal cancer and scheduling an examination to determine if it was caused by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 19, 2009, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease as due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 14, 2005 for service connection of coronary artery disease with history of myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft as secondary to hypertension. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for individual unemployability prior to November 14, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran did not set foot in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides, thus denying service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Board also determined that there is no evidence of actual exposure to herbicides or any other means by which the claimed conditions could be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, acute myocardial infarction, was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability. The primary cause of his coronary artery disease is unknown and not related to his childhood rheumatic fever.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and was not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant records are associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and consideration of the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and hypertension has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's heart disability and hypertension, as well as consideration of his blood pressure log from 2013. The claims will be readjudicated after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the relationship between his current heart disease and hypertension and service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred during his active service due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Veteran's chronic cough and chest conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cirrhosis of the liver and heart condition are not related to his service at Camp Lejeune, and have denied both claims.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease status post CABG has not resulted in more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure within a year, or a workload of greater than 5 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope. The current evaluation is therefore appropriate.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction, finding that the Veteran does not have a current heart disorder or etiologically related erectile dysfunction. The claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was remanded.