Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's heart disorder (claimed as atrial flutter, with diagnoses of underlying ischemic heart disease/CAD) is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.,Service connection for emphysema is denied because the condition is not shown to be related to diabetes mellitus or any other service-connected disability.,The Veteran's right eye blurred vision is found to be a refractive error (myopia) and not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the Veteran's condition is not related to his service or any service-connected disability. The claim of service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's heart disorder, claimed as coronary artery disease, is found to have been incurred during his active service. The lung disorder is presumed not to have existed prior to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease (claimed as a heart condition), and hypertension (claimed as a heart condition) is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not meet the threshold requirements of impaired hearing for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred in non-VA facilities due to emergency treatment for his service-connected conditions were authorized, as the treatment was necessary and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease and hypertension are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The hypertension is presumed to have been incurred during the one-year presumptive period following service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a heart disability allegedly related to exposure to chemicals in service. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion. The Veteran is entitled to a Travel Board hearing at the earliest available opportunity.

The Veteran's death was due to alcoholic cirrhosis and alcohol abuse, which is not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen any of the Veteran's service connection claims, including for peripheral neuropathy of the right leg, left leg, elbow, neck, low back, shoulder disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome, or heart disorder. The claimant's statements regarding abdominal pain are deemed not credible.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal for increased disability rating for service-connected compensated class III hypertensive cardiovascular disease, status post quadruple stent placement with coronary artery disease, and an old myocardial infarction, status post pacemaker placement.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted at a 50 percent disability rating, effective August 14, 2006. The heart disorder due to herbicide exposure and chronic headaches are presumed based on the Veteran's Vietnam service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his claims, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The claim for service connection for a heart condition remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service. The claims were not granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, hypertension, or any other condition.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for heart disease is being remanded due to the presence of ischemic heart disease, a condition that can be presumed based on Vietnam service and herbicide exposure. The case will be returned to the Board for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not suffer from any of his claimed conditions during service or for many years thereafter, and there is no credible evidence to support a finding of exposure to herbicides. Therefore, the criteria for service connection have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for payment of unauthorized medical expenses is denied as the preponderance of evidence shows he was stable for transfer to a VA facility on May 22, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for bronchial asthma and service connection for a heart condition were denied. The Veteran's bronchial asthma is currently rated as non-compensably disabling, while the heart condition claim was not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, including coronary artery disease, is presumed to have been incurred during his active service in the Republic of Vietnam due to exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a change in the hearing officer and the Veteran's request for another Travel Board hearing.