Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking service connection for heart attack residuals and arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for a VA cardiovascular examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diagnosed coronary artery disease did not begin during a period of active duty or active duty for training, and is not related to any service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for a heart disability cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and outstanding private medical records. The Veteran's claims for heart disability, hypertension, ulcerative colitis, residual left Achilles tendon disability, and bilateral ankle arthritis are currently under review.

The Veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension rendered him in need of care or assistance of another person to assist with various daily activities, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation based on a need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus type II as due to herbicide exposure are granted.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that it was not aggravated by military service. The appellant submitted new evidence but did not provide material information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to January 17, 2008 did not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease results in a left ventricular ejection fraction from 50-55 percent, which more closely approximates the criteria for a 60 percent rating under DC 7007. The claim for an increased rating for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board has remanded the case for additional development.

The Veteran's bunions were previously denied in an October 2005 rating decision. The claim was reopened, but new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim.,Service connection for a back disability is granted. Service connection for sleep apnea is also granted as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has found that further action is required due to the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits, and thus the case is being remanded for the RO or AMC to obtain SSA records and any other necessary development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining clarification from Dr. Brager regarding the cause of his colorectal cancer and scheduling an examination to determine if it was caused by herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 19, 2009, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease as due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 14, 2005 for service connection of coronary artery disease with history of myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft as secondary to hypertension. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for individual unemployability prior to November 14, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran did not set foot in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides, thus denying service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Board also determined that there is no evidence of actual exposure to herbicides or any other means by which the claimed conditions could be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, acute myocardial infarction, was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability. The primary cause of his coronary artery disease is unknown and not related to his childhood rheumatic fever.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and was not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant records are associated with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and consideration of the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, and hypertension has been withdrawn by the appellant.