Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cause-of-death claim due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining medical records from Wilford Hall and providing an opinion on the cause of death.

The Veteran's death in August 2008 was not related to a service-connected disability or service, and the Board found that his headaches did not contribute substantially or materially to cause his death.

The Board found that the effective dates for service connection and a 100% disability rating for ischemic heart disease cannot be earlier than October 19, 2007 (for service connection) and July 7, 2010 (for the 100% rating), as there was no evidence of these conditions prior to those dates.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease, was granted with an effective date of March 28, 1989. The VA has also determined that the current ratings are appropriate.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, endocarditis, diabetes mellitus, residuals of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA or stroke), and a vascular disability as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or worsened by his service-connected coronary artery disease, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran is granted a higher initial disability rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease prior to August 21, 2010. The effective date remains October 7, 2009.

The Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were not met.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 24, 2009, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence that he filed a formal or informal claim before this date.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service in the DMZ, was found to have caused his death. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and accrued benefits, finding that no claim had been submitted prior to September 21, 2009. The Veteran died before any appeal of his March 2010 denial of hearing loss could be completed.

The Board found no evidence of a direct or secondary service connection for the claimed conditions, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for heart disorder and COPD, finding that ischemic heart disease is not shown to be related to service or herbicide exposure. COPD was also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including tachycardia, is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine its likely etiology and whether it is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including examinations and further adjudication of issues related to service connection and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from the February 2014 examiner. The AOJ will also consider entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD/ischemic heart disease and hyperlipidemia were denied as there is no current disability that resulted from a disease or injury in service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was related to service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and a VA examination is needed to determine if his current cardiovascular diagnoses are related to his acute myocardial infarction during INACDUTRA on March 3, 1996.