Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cardiovascular disorder is not related to service or any incident therein, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. The initial disability ratings for coronary artery disease and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia remain unchanged.

The Board has ordered additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as service personnel records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service and finds it as likely as not that he developed diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease due to this exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during service, and therefore his claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are granted as they are presumed related to such exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (coronary artery disease and PTSD) rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially-gainful occupation from June 9, 2004. The Board granted an earlier effective date of June 9, 2004 for the TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for coronary artery disease has been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 10 percent prior to December 21, 2010 and during the timeframe April 1, 2011 through December 21, 2014, and higher than 60 percent beginning December 22, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The claim of an increased evaluation for PTSD with polysubstance dependence remains pending.

The Board granted an initial 10 percent rating for scars associated with coronary artery disease, reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD, but denied service connection for respiratory disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including scheduling a video conference hearing and determining whether the Veteran wants a new representative.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 8, 2014 was denied.,An increased disability rating of 30 percent for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted effective from December 8, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to herbicides were denied as there is no credible evidence of such exposure. The Board also found that the disabilities did not manifest during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's death was caused by a motor vehicle accident, not his service-connected coronary artery disease. The Board finds no evidence to support the claim that the heart condition contributed to the cause of death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia of the bilateral legs. The claims for ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, acid reflux disorder, diabetes mellitus, headaches, and sleep apnea have also been denied as there is no current diagnosis or link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial increased disability rating for CAD prior to May 26, 2009 was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7005.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure is denied as there was no prior informal or formal claim received within one year of separation from service, and the earliest possible effective date is March 18, 2003.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability, including coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis, is due to aggravation of his congenital bicuspid aortic valve defect by superimposed disease or injury during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining private treatment records from Guthrie Clinic/Robert Packer Hospital and Memorial Hospital of Towanda. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the service connection claims for various disabilities, including hearing loss and heart condition, all claimed as secondary to mercury poisoning.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, urinary incontinence, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, kidney disorder, and heart disorder. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability.