Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, coronary artery disease, kidney stones, and stomach disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Florida Hospital Waterman on May 5, 2009 is granted as the care and services were rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, status-post myocardial infarction, was rated at 30 percent prior to October 25, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as information regarding his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's use of tobacco products was a substantial factor in causing his death, and to obtain financial information from the appellant.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease prior to a decision being made.

The Board found no evidence of a current heart condition and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed heart murmur. The VA examiner concluded that the bilateral shoulder condition is less likely than not incurred in or caused by service, based on the Veteran's history of self-treatment with over-the-counter pain medication.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was not productive of workload of 7 METs or less, cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation, left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 50 percent or below, or congestive heart failure prior to October 1, 2014. His paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is a separate and distinct manifestation of his coronary artery disease and was productive of at least one documented episode within a 12-month period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, while his other conditions have not been established as being due to or a result of service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure, are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for congenital heart disease due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed as there are conflicting opinions regarding whether his preexisting condition was aggravated during service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, heart disability, or hypertension. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a cerebrovascular accident (CVA/stroke) and ischemic heart disease are remanded due to the Veteran filing a timely notice of disagreement.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and the claim for an increased evaluation remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy has not been established as they are not related to service or herbicide exposure.,PTSD was diagnosed but not linked to service. The Veteran's current psychiatric disability is attributed to alcohol abuse, which may be considered a secondary condition.,The claim for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his CAD and scar, residual of coronary artery bypass surgery, and scheduling a vocational rehabilitation specialist examination to determine employment limitations.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease (claimed as congestive heart failure) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.