Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the relationship between his coronary artery disease and service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted as it meets the criteria for direct service connection due to his exposure in Vietnam and diagnosed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected coronary artery disease and peripheral neuropathy, as well as for obtaining additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the earliest possible effective date is September 8, 2008.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) as due to herbicide exposure is granted, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he set foot in Vietnam during service and thus establishes presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate medical evidence regarding the relationship between his service-connected CAD and non-service-connected idiopathic cardiomyopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease was granted and assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation from August 31, 2010 to June 25, 2012. From June 26, 2012 forward, the Veteran is entitled to a 100 percent disability rating for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA outpatient treatment records and a new VA examination. The examiner will assess whether any current heart disability, including arrhythmia, stenosis, murmur, arteriosclerosis, or atherosclerosis, is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and stroke are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility for treatment of his service-connected conditions were approved due to the emergent nature of his condition and the unavailability of care at VA facilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease, finding that no formal or informal claims were received prior to June 29, 2001.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, intracranial bleed resulting in increased intracranial pressure, was not caused or contributed substantially and materially to his death by any service-connected disability. The medical evidence did not support a finding of ischemic heart disease as contributing to his death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and completing examinations for his knee and heart disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are not related to service. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected heart disease and any new-onset kidney, colon, and bladder cancer. The issues of TDIU and special monthly compensation at the housebound rate are also inextricably intertwined with these claims.

The Board found that the RO correctly calculated the amount of retroactive benefits to which the Veteran was entitled, and denied his claim for additional monetary benefits for the month of October 2006.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure. The issue of whether his notice of disagreement with an April 2009 rating decision was timely is dismissed.

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the appellant, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected ischemic heart disease.