Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's non-service connected hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguity in a VA examination regarding the Veteran's METs testing result, and because of the need for clarification on whether the Veteran suffers fatigue at a workload higher than the '5-7' METs range or between 5 and 7 METs. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are necessary to address the Veteran's hypertension, heart condition, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and TDIU claims. The issues have been remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have been associated with secondary conditions including chronic venous stasis, recurrent ipsilateral cellulitis, and ischemic heart disease. The Veteran is granted increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. As such, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding herbicide exposure along the lower Mississippi River and a need for further records searches. The Veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular conditions, including ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and/or hypertension, secondary to herbicide agent exposure is being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was initially manifested during service and is etiologically related to his service-connected heart disease. The Board granted service connection for sleep apnea.,The effective date for the VA recognition of the Veteran's second wife, LW, as a spousal dependent for purposes of receiving a VA dependency allowance has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a new VA medical opinion to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his coronary artery disease has been remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart condition, migraine headaches, and erectile dysfunction were not caused by VA treatment or medication. The evidence did not support a finding of additional disability resulting from carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for coronary artery disease was granted with a 30 percent evaluation from September 7, 2001 to December 31, 2001. The issue has been recharacterized as the highest available rating is already assigned.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease was initially rated at 10% from March 28, 2013, to April 23, 2013. From August 1, 2013, to January 6, 2014, the rating was increased to 100%. Beginning January 7, 2014, a 30% rating has been granted.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for severe gout with crippling arthritis and heart disease, both claimed as residuals of exposure to Agent Orange or mustard gas, are being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction and angioplasty was granted by the RO in a March 2012 rating decision. The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no case or controversy before it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, conducting a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cardiac disability, and determining whether he experienced myocardial infarction(s) during the claim period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining unit records and deck logs for the USS Mahopac during relevant time periods to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for shell fragment wound residuals and TDIU prior to October 20, 2007 were dismissed. The effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease was set at August 21, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the issues have been dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected Ischemic Heart Disease materially contributed to his cause of death, which was caused by multiple organ-system failure. The Board affords the Appellant the benefit of doubt and grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.