Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder substantially contributed to his death, and thus service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure, was denied because there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand and the Veteran did not serve in any of the military specialties that would have placed him on or near the perimeter of a base where herbicides were sprayed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's heart disorders and hypertension are not related to service, including his service-connected COPD. The evidence does not support a finding of ischemic heart disease or any other type of heart disorder due to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea and ischemic heart disease are related to his military service, while bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated, including verifying the Veteran's current address and obtaining VA treatment records. The Veteran will also need to undergo VA examinations for his hearing loss, otitis media, and heart disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is denied as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other environmental hazards during his service, and the medical evidence does not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service, and his coronary disease status post pacemaker placement is secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Board has granted a rating of at least 50 percent for service-connected PTSD, effective March 18, 2008. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD and hearing loss, as well as service connection for heart disability and morbid obesity are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran does not have a current heart disability or disease and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The AOJ should readjudicate the claim after obtaining any additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify periods of active duty and inactive duty training, which may affect service connection for a heart disability.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a heart condition for accrued benefits purposes, as well as DIC based on the Veteran's cause of death. The conditions were found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease with CAD status post stenting results in dyspnea, fatigue, and/or dizziness at a workload of approximately 7 METs. The Board finds that the current rating of 10 percent is inadequate to reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 4, 2011, for a 100 percent rating for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to unclear evidence regarding the severity of his disability in January 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from a private cardiologist.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and scars of the chest and leg from a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure. The Veteran's claim is rated at 10%.

The Veteran's deviated septum was incurred during service and is granted service connection. The issues of carpal tunnel syndrome, heart condition with murmur, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, acting alone, require the need of assistance for daily activities such as hygiene and medication management. The Board finds that aid and attendance is warranted solely because of his service-connected disabilities.