Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records review.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA medical opinion regarding whether service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development of the record, including seeking an opinion from a VA physician regarding whether the Veteran's heart condition is related to service. The case will be readjudicated following this.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The issue of ischemic heart disease is being held in abeyance due to a lack of evidence and further development may be required.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 2, 2009 is denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria for consideration of TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD as a result of combat stressors in Vietnam. The claim for peripheral neuropathy is reopened, and the Veteran's claim for service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted. The other claims of service connection are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them during his hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis, sinus disorder, and right inguinal hernia. Service connection for hypertension was not established due to lack of evidence linking the condition to herbicide exposure or military service. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent since April 19, 2013.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for ischemic heart disease, which he claims is related to his military service in Vietnam. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has ischemic heart disease and whether it is at least as likely as not caused by herbicide exposure during his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including as due to exposure to herbicides, is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and Parkinson's disease. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service or any other compensable exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the unavailability of his service records and the need for further medical examination to determine if any current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of the evidence in Virtual VA and VBMS databases. The case will be readjudicated after all necessary actions are completed.

The Veteran's heart disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and are not related to his service-connected PTSD.,Veteran has not been shown to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary atherosclerotic heart disease has not met the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the nature and etiology of any current skin disability of the feet and heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits was denied as he did not have an employment handicap despite having multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is eligible for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare from October 25, 2010 to November 3, 2010 due to a service-connected condition (coronary artery disease) and the presence of an emergency medical condition.

The Veteran's death was caused by multifocal pneumonia and coronary artery disease, both of which were not service-connected. The claim for DIC is granted based on the Veteran having been continuously rated as totally disabled due to his service-connected disabilities prior to his death.