Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and heart disability, finding no evidence of in-service onset or a link to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for cause of death, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and accrued benefits due to lack of evidence showing a service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease due to service connection, as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure and the condition was not shown during service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various conditions, but denied them on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional private treatment records and VA clinical records. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date prior to March 25, 1997 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is pending.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is granted as the treatment was necessary due to an emergency condition and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disability, an acquired psychiatric disability, and GERD. The Veteran's diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are either unrelated to his in-service exposure or due to other causes.,Specifically, the examiner found that the Veteran's mild aortic atherosclerosis with history of myocardial infarction is less likely than not related to any in-service herbicide exposure and was not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The acquired psychiatric disability developed approximately 30 years prior to his diabetes diagnosis and is less likely than not worsened by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. His GERD is also less likely than not the result of herbicide exposure during active service or caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart and psychiatric disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and are unrelated to service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder had its onset in 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for a complete audit of the Veteran's and appellant's VA compensation and pension benefits account(s) to determine the actual amounts owed, paid out, and whether the Veteran repaid an overpayment of VA pension benefits. The issue will be adjudicated again after this information is obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and arranging for medical examinations to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities. The issues include reopening a claim for low back disability, as well as claims for right foot, ankle, knee, and heart disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for heart disease, including ischemic heart disease, as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and heart disorder are not shown to be related to service or any incident therein.,VA treatment records do not indicate that the Veteran's current conditions were caused by VA care.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as due to hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish direct service connection or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a service connection claim for coronary artery disease was denied. The claims for increased ratings of hypertension and right middle metacarpal fracture, as well as the facial fracture claim, were also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence and unclear diagnoses. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion to rate his ischemic heart disease from November 24, 2009, to February 17, 2011.

The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service, which is presumed for those who served in Vietnam. Therefore, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's thoracic spine, left shoulder, left knee, left ankle, right ankle/foot, eye, stomach, leg numbness, and heart disabilities are not service-connected. The psychiatric disability is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was reopened due to new evidence. His coronary artery disease is rated at 30% as of August 14, 2012.