Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran is seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected hypertensive heart disease and hypertension. The case has been remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and possibly an examination to assess the impact of these conditions on employment.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death, which is considered a reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is moot as the grant of service connection for the cause of death constitutes the maximum benefit sought.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for depressive disorder, ischemic heart disease, and neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service stressors or causal relationships to his current conditions. The initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected PTSD and type 2 diabetes. He does not have ischemic heart disease or any other heart disorder, nor has he had right lower extremity or left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disability as secondary to PTSD, and remanded the remaining issues due to need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for coronary artery disease and erectile dysfunction, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability and ischemic heart disease are not service-connected, with no exposure to herbicide agents during service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for either condition.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, heart disorder (ischemic heart disease), lung disorder, liver disorder, nerve disorder (peripheral neuropathy), kidney disorder, or traumatic brain injury. The Board finds that service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was evaluated as 10 percent disabling from January 1, 2014 to September 11, 2014 and 60 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in either period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a video conference hearing. The issues on appeal include TDIU, evaluations of various service-connected disabilities, and the evaluation of specific nerve neuropathies.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is not related to service, including due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has decided that the case needs further development and remands it for an addendum VA examination to determine if the Veteran's diagnosed heart conditions, including CAD and left ventricular hypertrophy/dilation of atrium, are related to his service-connected kidney disability or his service-connected renal cell carcinoma.

The Board found that the Veteran's ischemic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis, and hypertension were not incurred in or caused by his service. The gap of nearly three decades between his service and these conditions makes it unlikely they are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease or hypertension, and there is no evidence of a service connection for these conditions. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's cardiovascular disease, including a heart disorder and hypertension, did not have onset in service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to service.

The Veteran's heart disorder, rated as coronary artery disease, has been granted a 100% rating from January 29, 2016. He is also in receipt of SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected varicose veins.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability and dismissed the lung disability claim due to withdrawal by the Veteran's authorized representative. The heart disability claim is now pending further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's congenital heart disease with aortic stenosis predated his active duty and did not increase in severity during service, thus denying service connection for a heart disability.