Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's heart disability is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed heart disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for coronary artery disease and TDIU are before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disability, manifested by hypertensive heart disease and congestive heart failure, is not related to his active service. The evidence does not show a chronic condition during service or continuous symptoms since service separation. Additionally, the Veteran's hypertension and congestive heart failure are not considered ischemic heart diseases due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disabilities, including carotid artery disease, valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter, were not incurred during service or due to exposure to herbicide agents. The conditions are considered direct rather than presumptive.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, including as due to his service-connected disabilities, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was granted, and he is now rated at 30 percent. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of ischemic heart disease, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his period of active duty for training, and thus service connection is granted. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's coronary artery disease and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, ischemic heart disease, and cardiovascular disease to include hypertension and congestive heart failure. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides in Vietnam, and there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board has determined that there is no current disability related to service for the claimed right elbow disorder. The Veteran's statements regarding his right elbow injury are not supported by medical evidence and thus do not establish a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to clarify the nature of the Veteran's heart and/or vascular disability, or disabilities, and to assess whether the subdural hematoma resulting from Coumadin toxicity was caused or aggravated by his heart or vascular disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a heart disorder or congestive heart failure with irregular heartbeat during service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, which was rated as 10 percent disabling since January 20, 2010, is now rated as 30 percent disabling. The rating reflects the Veteran's workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs, resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, occasional angina, and nausea; however, his left ventricular ejection fraction was 60%, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA policies and procedures for dealing with emergent transfers, as these records may contain new and material evidence relevant to the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and review of his medical records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial of service connection for a heart condition, a kidney condition, and hypertension in an August 2016 written statement.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and the claim for service connection has been granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed on both the sleep apnea and coronary artery disease claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional development due to missing documents in the Veteran's file. The issues of service connection for the cause of death and the amount of burial benefits paid are being remanded.