Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for CAD, diabetes mellitus, and hypothyroidism as they were not incurred during active duty or due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's death was caused by complications from his stomach cancer, which manifested many years after service and is not attributable to service or herbicide exposure. His service-connected conditions did not materially contribute to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected coronary artery disease and residuals of left cerebrovascular accident.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart condition, including myocardial ischemia and coronary artery disease, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The opinion from a VA physician concluded that these conditions are less likely than not related to his history of rheumatic fever and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and medical records review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disease, left knee disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the hands due to issues not being resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disease was rated at 30 percent since July 29, 2009. The rating is now increased to 60 percent effective August 25, 2010.

The Veteran is unable to find or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, with the exception of October 12, 2010 when he received a 100% rating. The issue is now moot after that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hypertension caused his current heart disabilities, including left ventricular dysfunction, left ventricular hypertrophy, and trace pulmonary and tricuspid regurgitation. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disability does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The gout of the fingers and toes claim is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since January 31, 2012. Prior to that date, his disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following such employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not incur a respiratory disability, heart disease, or arthritis in service and therefore denied these claims. The claim for hypertension was granted as it is more likely than not related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA/privately obtained medical records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he has current heart disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or low back disorder, as well as whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further examination and determination due to the potential establishment of a new presumption of service connection based on exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death from a cerebrovascular accident, which was caused by chronic coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's heart condition, including cardiac conduction system disease with a bifascicular block, was incurred during his military service and the Board grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if atrial fibrillation is related to service or service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal to the RO for additional action, including determining if service connection was established for bronchial asthma in a 1969 rating decision and effectuating that award. The Veteran is seeking service connection for chronic asthma, heart disorder, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded for further development, including obtaining clarification from the Veteran regarding his employment history and scheduling him for a VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for coronary artery disease, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The VA examination report is not adequate for the purpose of deciding this claim and additional development is required.