Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current Lyme disease or any residuals thereof, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disease, both secondary to PTSD, are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's death was caused by coronary artery thrombosis with an underlying cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is considered service-connected based on the balance of positive and negative evidence. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple myeloma and atherosclerotic heart disease with AICD placement, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange in Korea. The conditions were not related to service.

The Veteran's low back disability and bilateral lower extremity disorder are service-connected due to in-service combat exposure. The heart condition is presumed to be related to service, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability. The Veteran was awarded entitlement to service connection for hypertension, which is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's death was attributed to chronic depression, which the appellant claims was service-connected. However, there is no evidence linking any of these conditions to his period of active duty.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a gastrointestinal disability in service or within one year following discharge, and thus cannot be presumed to have been incurred therein.,There is also insufficient evidence linking any current heart disorder to service. The Veteran's separation examination did not reveal any heart issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claim, including obtaining records from State of Ohio disability retirement.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are rated as 100% disabling, but he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his disabilities. The case is REMANDED for further development and an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's heart condition is related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and whether he currently suffers from a form of ischemic heart disease.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease, but denied service connection for sleep apnea and headaches due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease has not been shown to meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent since June 20, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions and assigned a 20% evaluation effective from April 4, 2005. The effective date is not earlier than this as it was received on that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination records and development of his claim, including a new PTSD evaluation and consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn as to his right knee disorder, left knee disorder, hearing loss, multiple arthralgias (joint pain), and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board finds that the appellant has failed to present evidence showing that VA's care or treatment caused or contributed significantly to the Veteran's death. The medical records indicate multiple health issues, including COPD and coronary artery disease, which were treated by VA prior to his death.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not have a permanent and total service-connected disability at the time of his death. The appellant is therefore not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.