Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate the appellant's various disorders.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is not entitled to an increased rate of DIC because he was not in receipt of, nor was he entitled to receive, compensation for a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for at least eight years immediately preceding his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's valvular heart disease with subsequent aortic valve replacement and multi-level lumbar degenerative spine disease, upper thoracic left paravertebral myofascial strain, lumbosacral strain, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbosacral spine are incurred in active service. The Board found that all reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, but granted service connection for hypertensive heart disease. Other claims were either not addressed or denied.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on March 10, 2012 were reimbursed as the emergency treatment was provided for a service-connected disability (chronic kidney disease and heart problems).

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for an increased rating for diabetes and service connection for a heart disorder due to Agent Orange exposure. The claims are dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of a heart disorder in service or within one year thereafter, and the Veteran's current heart disorders are not related to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of his claims, including the issue of entitlement to a TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, PTSD, and panic disorder, is found to be related to his military service. His coronary artery disease and hypertension are also found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability between August 25, 2009 and June 2, 2010.

The Veteran is entitled to reimbursement or payment for the costs of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a period of hospitalization from March 14 to March 20, 2012, at McLaren Lapeer Regional Medical Center due to a medical emergency involving a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the AOJ for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local VA office. The Veteran has requested a Board videoconference hearing, but his request was received prior to any Board consideration of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease with angina was denied because the earliest claim received by VA was in January 1996, which is when service connection was granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased evaluation of coronary artery disease was granted, with a staged increase to 60 percent effective January 23, 2015. The earlier staged ratings remain unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any heart disorder. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart and stomach disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of lay statements.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected heart disabilities, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for hypertension or PTSD. The evidence does not establish a medical nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his documented in-service incurrences, nor does it indicate that he developed these conditions within one year after leaving the service.