Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with complications has been granted a rating of 20 percent, and the Board finds that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Ochsner Medical Center from January 18-19, 2007 were reimbursed as the treatment was deemed necessary due to an emergent condition that posed a risk to his health and life.

The Veteran was married to his second former spouse, T., from April 12, 2003 to September 22, 2006. The Board finds that the Veteran should be entitled to increased dependency compensation benefits based on marriage for this period due to extenuating circumstances.

The Veteran's cognitive disorder is service connected, and it is secondary to his stroke. The Board has granted service connection for a sleep disorder on de novo review as the evidence shows that it is related to his now service-connected cognitive disorder.

The cause of the Veteran's death was not related to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected hearing loss. The claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied as there is no evidence showing that VA received a claim from the Veteran prior to January 26, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board and RO have previously denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence linking his heart problems to his Philippine military service. The claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development and adjudication, including a VA examination to assess his employability given his service-connected disabilities (including heart disability), and any other disability he may seek to have service-connected. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after resolving the new claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 1, 2000.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service, nor did any such disease or injury contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Naples Community Hospital on November 17, 2007 are not eligible for payment or reimbursement because VA facilities were reasonably available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable, sound, wise, or practicable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and the condition did not manifest until after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no new and material evidence to reopen his claim for a back disorder. The other claims were also denied as the Veteran did not have current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by COPD, which may be related to his service-connected welding exposure. The appellant has met the requirements for accrued benefits as her claim for DIC was pending at the time of her husband's death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypothyroidism and coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service, including exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, while sufficient to meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further procedural and evidentiary development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA audiological and medical examinations to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and the nature and etiology of his claimed hypertension and heart disease disabilities.