Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, and chronic kidney disease. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing onset during or soon after service, nor was there any competent medical evidence linking these conditions to events in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's esophageal and base of tongue cancers, as well as his coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, were not related to his service. The appellant's leukoplakia in-service was considered unrelated to these later diagnosed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer and granted it. The Board also found that the Veteran had in-country service in Vietnam, which establishes exposure to herbicides, and thus grants service connection for coronary artery disease as a presumptively linked condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at 40 percent for the entire rating period. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death (acute kidney injury, volume depletion, and coronary artery disease) was not related to his military service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current diagnosed heart condition, including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance is due to his service-connected conditions, including severe chronic back pain, spinal stenosis, fusion of the left elbow joint, unsteady gait, and coronary artery disease. However, some of these conditions are not directly related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin rash of the hands and feet is service-connected, as it was present during his active duty. The heart condition issue remains pending for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder, including his myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder and respiratory condition are not related to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and issuance of an SOC.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to September 27, 2013. From September 27, 2013, it also did not meet the criteria for a 60% rating.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a heart disorder, which he claims resulted from exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for an addendum VA medical opinion addressing new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in-service and has a diagnosis of ischemic heart disease. As such, service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder and heart disability did not meet the criteria for service connection, as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.