Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion from a cardiologist regarding the Veteran's heart disorder, including palpitations and supraventricular arrhythmias. The examiner is asked to determine if these conditions are related to service-connected PTSD or TBI.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 24, 2009 for the award of service connection for ischemic heart disease with coronary artery disease. The decision is based on evidence showing a diagnosis of these conditions in December 2008 and April 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to his death. The Board finds that the nonservice-connected conditions (COPD and colostomy) were more significant in preventing employment.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted at 30 percent, effective October 20, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that his current disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board has ordered a medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions, particularly his adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression, contributed to his death from congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran seeks service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, which he claims are due to his exposure to herbicides in service. The Board is tasked with determining whether the ship on which the Veteran served had inland waterway service by virtue of which he would have been exposed to air borne sprayed herbicides.

The Veteran's hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension are all found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has granted the Veteran a 70% rating for PTSD as of June 19, 2009.

The appeal is being remanded due to the failure to afford the appellant a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after rescheduling the hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran died from arteriosclerotic heart disease, which is not service-connected. The Board finds no evidence linking the cause of death to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, initially claimed as pneumonia with cardiomegaly, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship between his current condition and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease is related to his in-service herbicide exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) is denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for CAD remains March 25, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 21, 2010 is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated employment information and VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed the motion to revise a decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the September 2009 decision denying service connection for hyperthyroidism, heart disease, gouty arthritis, and kidney disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, do not render him unemployable as he is currently employed in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to include obtaining a medical opinion as to the etiology of any current heart disorder, including hypertensive heart disease and atrial fibrillation.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date prior to October 18, 2010 for the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to ischemic heart disease. The effective date is set at October 18, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.