Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease is granted as it is presumed to have been incurred in active service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for peripheral vascular disease, residuals of tracheostomy, and acid reflux are not addressed.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, was found to have been incurred in service.,Bilateral hearing loss was also determined to be related to active service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% effective May 11, 2010. The VA examiner found the Veteran to have occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective relationships.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining new VA examinations to address his heart disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and issuance of a statement of the case on issues related to his diabetes mellitus type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and retinopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total rating were denied. The left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, with separate ratings for limitation of flexion and ACL deficiency.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for coronary artery disease and PTSD was granted, with an initial rating of 10 percent each. The RO also denied a higher rating for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Rockingham Memorial Hospital on July 9, 2009 is granted as the treatment was for a condition that would have been considered an emergency by a prudent layperson.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially or materially contributed to by a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, and denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for cause of death, but it is not clear whether the Veteran's seizure disorder contributed substantially and materially to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder and depressive disorder were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, including as secondary to a pre-existing condition. The evidence did not support granting service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disability, finding no evidence of such disability other than hypertension (HVD). The decision also noted that the Veteran had previously been diagnosed with PTSD and was presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain medical records and to provide the Veteran with an opinion regarding whether his service-connected psychiatric disability caused or aggravated any cardiovascular disorder, including hypertension.

The Board finds that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation and WPW syndrome were incurred in service, as there is credible evidence showing a pre-existing condition aggravated by military service. The coronary artery disease and chronic congestive heart failure are not related to service.

The Veteran died due to complications from a VA thoracentesis performed on July [redacted], 2002. The Board found that the death was not foreseeable and granted compensation for the cause of death under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found no evidence of a heart condition or hypertension in service and denied the claims based on the absence of a link between current conditions and service.

The Veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease and coronary artery bypass graft residuals have been rated at 100 percent since October 13, 2005.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder (asthma and COPD) and a heart condition were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions had onset during or were aggravated by active duty service.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they are not related to his active military service.