Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting hypertension was not aggravated by service and thus denied service connection for coronary artery disease. Service connection for hypertension was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current disability level.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have actual exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for heart disease or diabetes mellitus. The claims were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The case is being remanded for the VA to obtain additional treatment records and review the claim again. The Veteran's TDIU prior to November 7, 2014 remains under appeal.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and heart conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including VA treatment records and private treatment records. The Veteran may also be provided with a secondary service connection claim for his shoulder condition.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities, as well as whether he meets the criteria for permanent housebound status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease were contributory causes of his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and ischemic heart disease, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The combined disability rating is at least 70 percent.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining any form of gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and finds that he currently has ischemic heart disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected conditions. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a member of the Board at his local RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of coronary artery disease is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection has been granted for a skin condition, but it was not incurred during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied in the December 2009 Board decision. The new and material evidence submitted since that time relates to a possible secondary relationship between cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy and chest pain during service, which could potentially relate to coronary artery disease.,The Veteran's claim for reopening of his cervical spondylosis with radiculopathy was reopened based on the submission of new evidence suggesting a potential secondary relationship.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam, which could affect his claim for service connection for the cause of his death. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a psychiatric examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bipolar disorder. The issues of increased rating for bipolar disorder, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for PTSD and hypertension, and TDIU are also being remanded.