Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is found to be related to his service in Vietnam, where he was presumed exposed to herbicides. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy left arm, cardiovascular heart condition with surgery, and diabetes mellitus prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating for coronary artery disease from 60 percent to 10 percent was improper and restored the original 60 percent rating.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition. The issue is now on its merits, with the need for additional VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from ischemic heart disease or any other heart conditions related to his service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Appellant received $1000 in burial benefits. The claim for additional burial benefits is denied as it exceeds the maximum allowable benefit under the law.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for increased evaluations for coronary artery disease and bilateral hearing loss, as well as the claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability, are no longer before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that his current heart disorders did not exist prior to military service and were not linked to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for an increased rating for service-connected ischemic heart disease, leading to the dismissal of this appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (brain herniation due to stroke) was not related to service or his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, is denied. The Board finds no evidence of a chronic heart disorder/ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent prior to January 16, 2014. Beginning on that date, the rating has been increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the need for further medical development, including an examination to determine which of his symptoms are related to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, to include coronary artery disease, was granted service connection effective August 31, 2010. The effective dates for other conditions were determined based on the specific claims and relevant regulations.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess any sleep disorder(s) and heart disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim also requires clarification from his former employer regarding why he was unable to work.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for DIC, finding that no claim was received within one year of the Veteran's death and there is no evidence of a prior claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of pulmonary thromboembolism is dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal (service connection) is already in effect.

The Veteran's valvular heart disease status post aortic valve replacement and pacemaker implantation is currently rated as 60 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7000 for any period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his heart disability and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues on appeal with the exception of his bilateral hearing loss claim.