Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the remaining claims of service connection for sleep disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (secondary to diabetes and/or PTSD), alcoholism (secondary to PTSD), joint pain (including fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis) (secondary to PTSD), gastrointestinal condition (secondary to PTSD), initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, and initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for CAD have all been denied. The Veteran's service treatment records are silent for complaints or findings of hearing loss, asbestosis, hypertension, alcoholism, joint pain, gastrointestinal condition, diabetes mellitus, or CAD.

The Veteran's heart disease and status post myocardial infarction are not considered to be due to VA care, but rather a result of his own medical history and conditions. The Board finds no fault on the part of the VA in this case.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of all service-connected disabilities in combination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including mitral valve prolapse. The new evidence received since the July 2008 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and certain hearing loss disabilities were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in accordance with VA regulations for PTSD, and the Veteran's other psychiatric diagnoses did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address conflicting diagnoses of heart disability and to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of any psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and possible treadmill stress test.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, ischemic heart disease (diagnosed as coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation), PTSD, peripheral vascular disease due to service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II, and diabetic nephropathy due to service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II. The Veteran's vision problems are not considered a disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart condition, including CAD, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and arteriosclerotic heart disease, did not have its onset in service or within a year of discharge. The Board concluded that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service, particularly his exposure to chemicals and smoke from the fire aboard an aircraft carrier.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including primarily his major depression, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) with a history of anginal attacks on moderate exertion is rated at 100 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records. The claims for service connection for diabetes, bronchitis (presumed exposure), right knee disorder, heart disorder, and bronchitis are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, elevated PSA, macular edema with retinopathy, and a renal condition were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand, and thus could not establish a presumption of such exposure. The preponderance of evidence is against finding any of the claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The claim for hypertensive heart disease has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural issues and incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his ischemic heart disease did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and other issues were also addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development as requested by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.