Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, heart disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and skin disability are found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed hypertension and heart disorders, including consideration of secondary service connection on the basis of aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service, and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service. As such, service connection for a heart disorder on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure is denied.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, status-post myocardial infarction and stent placements, has been rated at 60 percent disabling since March 24, 2004. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea syndrome and heart condition due to undiagnosed illness related to his Gulf War service have been denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are causally related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected ischemic heart disease is denied. The effective date remains October 31, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; a heart condition to specifically include coronary artery disease; hypertension; and glaucoma are not supported by evidence of service connection or exposure to herbicides. As such, these claims have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and developing his asbestos exposure claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for coronary artery disease and an initial, non-compensable rating for asbestos-related pleural disease. The Board is remanding the cases to obtain additional evidence regarding herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for congestive heart failure as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated private treatment records and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's COPD is related to service exposure. The heart condition claim will also be considered as secondary to COPD.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease is granted as secondary to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, with the presumption of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure. The remaining claims of service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic kidney disease are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and further development of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected damage to cranial nerves V, VII, and X associated with residual scar, status post adenocystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland with ptosis is found to be the proximate cause of his obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's ischemic heart disease has been granted a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) is secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, the claim for service connection for CAD as secondary to PTSD is granted.

The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to December 15, 2011 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease. The case is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development of his TDIU claim. The Board finds that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the extent of social and occupational functional impairment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran died in January 2010 from congestive heart failure due to coronary artery disease. The claim for VA burial benefits is denied as the Veteran was not receiving any VA compensation or pension at the time of his death and did not meet the criteria for burial benefits under applicable regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's kidney disorder was aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease, and for further development as needed.