Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's undifferentiated carcinoma of the parotid gland and heart disease are not service-connected as they did not originate in service or manifest until years thereafter, and are not otherwise related to service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of service personnel records for periods prior to November 1964. The appellant must provide more information regarding the Veteran's claimed chemical exposure, and VA will undertake additional searches for these records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

The Board finds that the Veteran's heart condition, to include only a heart murmur, is etiologically related to active service and grants this claim. The preponderance of evidence is against the claims for coronary artery disease and coronary artery bypass graft.

The Veteran's death was not caused by the hernia repair surgery performed at a VA medical facility in August 2007. The Board found that the care provided met the usual standard of care and was not the primary cause of his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a medical advisory opinion regarding the likely etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's congestive heart failure is related to his service-connected CAD. The case will be returned for further development and an opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's private medical expenses incurred at MRMC on April 12, 2014 are granted as the treatment was for a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital due to emergent symptoms of coronary artery disease are granted, as the visit was deemed an emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's heart condition, hypertension, and residual cardiac scar have been granted effective from February 15, 2001. The squamous cell carcinoma of the right base of the tongue has not been granted an earlier effective date.,Issues related to increased ratings for the heart condition, hypertension, and residual cardiac scar are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder, specifically supraventricular tachycardia (formerly known as paroxysmal atrial tachycardia), based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease and kidney condition are not service-connected due to a lack of evidence showing in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are not related to his active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused by or related to his military service, including any exposure to herbicides. The Board also found no service-connected disability at the time of his death.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his ejection fraction is above 30% and he has not experienced chronic congestive heart failure.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for heart disorder, skin disorder, and small bowel disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims will be further evaluated with additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he is capable of performing sedentary work.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient opinions regarding exposure to insecticides and herbicide agents. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease with aortic stenosis are being evaluated for potential connection to alleged exposure to insecticides.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for chronic fatigue disorder, kidney disorder, migraine headaches, neurological signs and symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and coronary artery disease (CAD) have been dismissed. The appeal for CAD has been remanded.