Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran's cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia, with contributory conditions including CAD, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and OBS. The VA medical opinion found that the service-connected psychiatric disability did not cause or contribute to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, arthritis of neck and right wrist, back disorder, left ear disorder, and right ear disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition and granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for his jaw disability resulting from a fall at a VA Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart and eye disabilities, as well as his requests for a compensable rating prior to October 17, 2011 for right ear hearing loss and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date was not addressed.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, as there is no medical evidence of ischemic heart disease at the time of his death.

The Board finds that an effective date prior to July 20, 2005 for the award of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is not warranted. The Veteran's claim was denied in February 1982 and he did not file a new claim seeking service connection for CAD until July 20, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, PTSD, neuropathy, tinnitus, and secondary service-connected IHD have been granted.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease with hyperlipidemia is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and attempting to obtain treatment records. The Veteran's appeal is now pending again with the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the impact of all service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's ability to work and considering any period when the Veteran was unemployed due to his service-connected conditions. The TDIU issue will be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service if applicable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disorder or heart disorder related to his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Korea, which could affect his claims for diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current extent of his service-connected coronary artery disease, as the previous examination was inadequate.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease from March 25, 2010, to November 22, 2010, and from March 1, 2011, is denied. The claim for a TDIU due to ischemic heart disease is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his exposure to herbicides and other potential causes of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral upper extremity nerve condition, an eye condition, and a heart condition (including ischemic heart disease), finding no evidence of current disabilities or causation related to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia substantially or materially contributed to his death from acute myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease. The Board finds that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's terminal respiratory disorder(s) were not related to his active service, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death. The Appellant did not provide evidence linking the Veteran's respiratory condition to in-service exposure to chemicals.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for ischemic heart disease status post percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with 3 stents is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection and SMC at the housebound rate has been withdrawn.