Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except hearing loss were withdrawn by the Veteran. The Board grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's death was caused by chronic obstructive lung disease, which is not service-connected. The appellant's claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating due to his service-connected condition.

The Board has ordered a remand to clarify the appellant's service dates and request for an addendum VA examination. The claims will be returned to the RO/AMC for further review.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, with hypertension, was rated at 30 percent prior to August 26, 2006.

The Board's decisions regarding the effective date for service connection and TDIU have been withdrawn, leaving only a motion seeking review of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The motions are dismissed without prejudice to refiling.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, status post CABG, was found to not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating prior to January 30, 2015 or as of that date. The Board denied the claim.

The Veteran's diagnosed ischemic heart disease did not have its onset or aggravation during a period of active military service, active duty for training (ACDUTRA), or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim seeking service connection for a heart condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability, including coronary artery disease, is not related to his active duty service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for direct service connection for diabetes mellitus and all secondary conditions, including as due to herbicide exposure. The decision found that his diabetes did not have its onset during active service or within one year thereafter, and it is not related to active service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a heart condition, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder. The case has been remanded due to the need for clarification on the nature of any current heart conditions and their relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to possible exposure to contaminated soil and ground water in Guam, which may have affected the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and heart disease.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis, cervical radiculopathy, heart condition (presumably ischemic heart disease), eczema, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA medical opinions provided less than 50% probability for a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for the period from June 2010 to May 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current heart disorder and finds no evidence of service connection for this condition. For his low back disorder, the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease, was not related to his active military service or any service-connected disability. The VA physician provided a negative nexus opinion.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed hypertension, specifically whether it is proximately due or aggravated by service-connected lung cancer or CAD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination and a need to consider the April 2011 echocardiogram.

The Board is remanding the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's CAD required continuous medication and produced metabolic equivalents (METs) between 5 and 10 with subjective complaints of chest pain and shortness of breath without cardiac hypertrophy or dilation. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD status post MI and coronary artery bypass grafting are not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Video Conference hearing due to his failure to report for the scheduled hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are still pending.