Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's death was caused by arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, which is service-connected. The appellant is recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse and thus eligible for DIC benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a heart disability at the time of his August 2009 claim and has not had one since. For the other conditions, the evidence does not support service connection.

The VA examiner found no concrete evidence of ischemic heart disease in the Veteran's medical records, leading to a denial of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which is a covered herbicide disease. The appellant filed her claim within one year of the Veteran's death and qualifies as a Nehmer class member. Therefore, she is entitled to an effective date of May 13, 2002 for DIC benefits.

The Veteran's death was not deemed to be service-connected, and the appellant did not apply for SDVI/RH insurance within two years of receiving notification of his VA rating. The Board found no evidence that the Veteran was mentally incompetent from a service-connected disability at any relevant point in time.

The Veteran received emergency medical treatment for a non-service connected heart condition on November 5, 2012. The claim is granted to the extent that VA may provide reimbursement under applicable regulations due to the Veteran's pre-existing Medicare coverage.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II was denied by the Board. The appeal is based on complications and additional conditions related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically DDD of the lumbosacral spine and ischemic heart disease. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions' impact on employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hypertension have caused his current hypertensive heart disease, warranting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's heart disability is rated at 10 percent, effective December 21, 2011. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied as the increase in disability occurred prior to the one-year period before the filing of his increased rating claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative joint disease of the spine and coronary artery disease were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The case is therefore REMANDED.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his heart condition arose during service or is otherwise related to any incidents of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coarctation of the aorta, adult type, is service-connected. The other heart conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, contributed substantially to his cardiopulmonary arrest and death from COPD.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for a heart disorder, manifested by chest pain, as new and material evidence had not been submitted to support the claim. The Veteran's statements regarding chest pains in service were previously considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease, which was caused by his service-connected anxiety neurosis, is permanently aggravated by this condition and grants service connection for it as secondary to the service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during active duty service and therefore, his claim for ischemic heart disease cannot be granted based on presumptive service connection. The Board also determined that there is no evidence of a myocardial infarction in service or any chronic heart condition incurred due to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability with high blood pressure was previously denied in May 2011, but new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim. The Veteran is granted an increased rating of 100 percent for his major depressive disorder.,The Veteran is also granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.