Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease and ischemic cardiomyopathy, is service-connected due to herbicide exposure during his time at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and heart disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of a worsening of his pre-existing left ear hearing loss during active duty, and the right ear hearing loss was not shown to have begun in service. Service connection for coronary artery disease could not be established as it did not begin until many years after service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides is considered presumptive.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations related to the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims will be readjudicated after these developments.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his death was not caused by or related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 (experimental drugs) was also denied due to lack of evidence showing negligence on VA's part.

The Board has not considered a substantial portion of the claims file, including service treatment records and an unappealed July 2009 rating decision. The issues involving diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease are inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has added the issue of entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease, claimed as secondary to exposure to chemical agents, to the current appeal due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the appellant's claim for hyperlipidemia. The case is REMANDED for issuance of a statement of the case on this issue and obtaining additional treatment records related to the Veteran's ischemic heart disease prior to his death.

The Veteran's surgical scar is found to be proximately due to his service-connected rheumatic heart disease. The Veteran's rheumatic heart disease was rated at a noncompensable level from November 2002 to July 2010, and later granted a compensable rating of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease or any other heart disorder related to his active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a rib fracture and bronchitis have been reopened, but the heart disability claim remains unresolved. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the rib fracture and bronchitis claims, but did not find sufficient evidence linking the current disabilities to service or exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease was reopened and granted effective August 5, 2011, the date he was diagnosed with the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, Parkinson's disease, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction are not fully developed. The appeal is REMANDED to allow for further development.

The Veteran's initial ratings for coronary artery disease and left hand incoordination have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher schedular ratings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The new evidence submitted since the March 2005 decision supports a finding that these conditions are related to military service.,The Veteran's dental condition is currently on appeal, but an examination will be conducted to determine if it can be linked to his time in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the conditions claimed are not related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart condition is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguities in the medical opinions provided and incomplete development. The appellant's heart disorder will need clarification regarding whether it was pre-existing or incurred during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, was not caused or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability. The medical evidence does not support a finding that ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease is related to service.