Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart condition is due to a myocardial infarction suffered during INACDUTRA in 2000, and service connection for this disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for heart disorder, higher initial evaluations for his service-connected conditions, and a higher evaluation for right foot sinus tarsi syndrome have been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for tuberculosis has been dismissed as there is no evidence of current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that there was no evidence of a right knee disability or heart disability due to in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left knee disabilities were found not to warrant higher ratings.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and determine whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were a principal or contributory cause of his death, including metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for consideration of new evidence submitted by him and his hearing transcript. The case will be returned to the Board if further action is required.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including an examination and opinion regarding service connection for a heart condition.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date prior to August 31, 2010 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease is denied as ischemic heart disease was added to the list of diseases subject to presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure effective August 31, 2010.

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease is granted service connection based on exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The issues of PTSD and breathing problems are not addressed as the hearing transcript could not be produced.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and his scars are rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease with hypertension was denied in May 1997. The effective date of the grant of service connection and assignment of a 100% disability evaluation is October 12, 2004.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss, heart disease, hypertension, vertigo, or lung disease manifested during active duty service or in the year after separation from active duty service; or is related to exposure to radiation during service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's heart condition has been rated at 30% since August 17, 2010. The Board found that the evidence does not show a higher rating for any period prior to this date.

The Veteran's claims for left knee, heart disorder, right ear disability (otitis media and otitis externa), right hand disability, and right knee disability have been denied. The Board has found no current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to support the claims of PTSD, left knee condition, and heart condition.,The Veteran was diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety disorder related to his service in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition due to new evidence submitted since the June 2008 rating decision. However, the Board finds that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and his heart condition did not manifest during active service or within one year of separation from active service. The Board also found no evidence linking the Veteran's current heart condition to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam or had chronic symptoms related to these conditions during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart condition is not related to an in-service injury, disease, or event, including a finding of a heart murmur in 1960. As such, service connection for this condition cannot be established.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying periods of service in the National Guard. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed AV block with catheterization is not related to his service-connected hypertensive heart disease and thus cannot be granted service connection.