Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disease, and an increased rating for tinea versicolor were denied. The claim for tinea versicolor was granted with a 30% disability rating.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a heart disability, to include CAD, was incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's contentions regarding his diagnosis and treatment for CAD are not supported by the medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety was denied as there is no evidence that the condition had its onset during active service or resulted from disease or injury in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, residuals of removal of gallstones and gallbladder, a disability manifested by dizziness, diabetes mellitus, nerve damage in the head, hypertension, asthma, heart disability, impotence, and an eye disability. The Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for valvular heart disease with endocarditis and multiple sclerosis were denied, and the appellant did not appeal these decisions. The current denial remains in effect.

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

The Veteran's cause of death, diagnosed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), due to or as a consequence of coronary artery disease and renal insufficiency, is not shown to have been directly incurred in service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran's cause of death is etiologically related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cardiovascular condition, specifically claimed as atherosclerotic heart disease, status post coronary bypass grafting and diastolic function, was not incurred in or aggravated during active service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and is not secondarily related to a service connected condition.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain clarification of the VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran had ischemic heart disease, and to clarify whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The case will be returned for further adjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, as his combined rating is 90 percent and does not include one disability rated at least 40 percent. The Board finds that he can still obtain and retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the claim that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or contributed substantially to his death from multisystem organ failure. The appellant's lay assertions are not competent medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition, respiratory disability, and cyst in the left kidney. The evidence did not support current diagnoses or show that any conditions were incurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment, or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's claims for colorectal cancer, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary hypertension are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to combustible gasses in Korea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as his dental treatment was provided by non-VA providers on a fee basis, which does not meet the criteria for VA compensation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's PTSD claim and remanded it for further development. The heart disorder claim is also remanded, as well as the tonsillar cancer residuals and heart disorder claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and denied increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities. The Veteran's conditions are currently rated as follows: loss of use of both feet (100%), coronary artery disease (60%), PTSD (50%), arthritis of the lumbar spine (40%), peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (30%), peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity (20%), diabetes mellitus, type 2 (20%), compression of the L5 nerve root with numbness in the left foot (10%), and erectile dysfunction (noncompensable).

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability was not incurred or aggravated during his active service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides. The VA examiner opined that it was less likely as not that the Veteran's current heart condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim seeking an effective date earlier than September 14, 1981, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) was granted. The Board confirmed the effective date as September 14, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his SSA records, which may contain relevant evidence.