Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and retrieval of all pertinent medical records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, heart disability, and prostate cancer, as well as TDIU. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, rheumatic arthritis, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), and cervical spine disability. The claim for an increased rating of hemorrhoids was granted to a 20 percent rating effective November 24, 2010.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: a claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and a TDIU based on service-connected conditions. The case is being remanded to allow the VA to consider additional evidence, including recent VA examination reports and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, prostate cancer (status post radical prostatectomy), and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his service due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty. The erectile dysfunction is also found to be secondary to the service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and heart condition due to incomplete development of her military records, including periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and further medical opinion regarding his psychiatric condition, coronary artery disease, hairy cell leukemia, and pancytopenia.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides and that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease), including as due to exposure to herbicides, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure or a current disability. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's cause of death, pneumonia, is found to be related to his service-connected coronary artery disease and hemochromatosis. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as the Veteran's cause of death is now service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for heart disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral foot disability, and left knee arthritis have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease was granted, with a 10 percent rating prior to March 16, 2015, and a 30 percent rating effective from that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disability, to include ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure is being remanded as additional medical records are needed and an examination may be required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be service connected due to exposure to herbicides during his period of active duty, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's pleural plaques are found to be at least as likely as not related to asbestos exposure during service. The Veteran is also granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, Type 2 and ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) are not related to his military service. The evidence did not support a finding of herbicide exposure or any other basis for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's need for the regular aid and attendance of another person was established due to his service-connected disabilities, including cerebrovascular accident, left hemiplegia, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, glaucoma, and coronary artery disease. The Board granted SMC based on this need.