Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertensive heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as these conditions are not related to military service.,The Veteran's current diagnoses were noted in a November 2010 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA cardiology examination to determine the nature and etiology of his heart disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his reserve duty at Fort Drum in 1968, and to determine if he is entitled to service connection for heart disability and prostate cancer as secondary to such exposure.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that cardiac arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease did not have their onset during service or due to herbicide exposure. The appellant's theory that nightmares and PTSD contributed to his death was also found lacking.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, increased ratings for DJD of the lumbosacral spine, and radiculopathy of both lower extremities were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, diverticular disease, PTSD, COPD with sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for diverticular disease was not addressed in the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records and considering his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of adequate VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify a specific stressor event and obtain updated VA treatment records, as well as arrange for psychiatric and cardiovascular examinations.

The effective date for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease is set at June 17, 1985. The Veteran's claim was received on July 6, 1989, and prior to that, his initial heart condition (heart murmur) claim was denied in January 1984.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart disability and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, rated at 60 percent since November 3, 2004, is manifested by ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 50 percent and no evidence of chronic congestive heart failure. The Board finds that the criteria for a 60 percent rating have been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder due to presumed herbicide exposure during service has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for arthritis, tuberculosis, heart disease, and hypertension as there is no competent evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection was granted, and he is currently receiving a 30 percent evaluation for his arteriosclerotic heart disease (AHD) status post angioplasty. The rating has been temporarily increased to 30 percent from March 2, 2011, to November 9, 2012, and then reduced back to 10 percent as of November 9, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to render him unemployable, and the Board grants TDIU.

The Board finds that the service-connected frostbite residuals did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death, as determined by a VA physician. The primary cause of death was COPD, which is not related to the service-connected condition.

The Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to his diabetes. He is also granted TDIU and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not experience an in-service occurrence or aggravation of an injury or disease related to the heart or eyes, and any current heart or eye disorder is not etiologically related to active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and an eye disorder are denied.

The Veteran is granted service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) with a 100 percent rating effective from the date of implantation of an AICD on December 15, 2005. The earlier effective date claim for CAD prior to August 8, 2005 is denied.