Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam-era service in the Philippines qualifies him for presumptive service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability, including coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis, was not incurred in active service. The congenital bicuspid aortic valve present at birth was not worsened by any superimposed disease or injury during service.

The Veteran's cause of death was an acute myocardial infarction. His arteriosclerotic heart disease with unstable angina, for which he received non-service-connected pension benefits, did not contribute to his death.

The Veteran's claims for right bundle branch block and coronary artery disease with stress induced angina are being remanded due to the need to provide proper notification of what evidence would be necessary to substantiate his claim, including the bases for the prior denial.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA cardiology examination and providing an opinion on whether any identified heart disorder is caused or chronically worsened by the service-connected heart murmur.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic heart disorder, finding that his cardiovascular disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of infectious hepatitis.

The Board is requesting additional clarification and evidence regarding the Veteran's heart condition, specifically whether he had ischemic heart disease or congestive heart failure that contributed to his death. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred during active military service. The Veteran's hypertension, while not directly related to his service-connected ischemic heart disease, may be secondary to it.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to ischemic heart disease, which is considered a direct result of his active service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for heart disease related to herbicide exposure in service, but hypertension is not related to service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that there is no currently diagnosed heart disorder related to service or presumed exposure to herbicides, and thus the claim for service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The claims for secondary service connection for neurological disorder, heart disorder, and hypertension as due to diabetes mellitus were denied based on lack of medical nexus evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hypertension and heart disability are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease, which is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, either caused or contributed substantially to his death. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD), finding that it is related to symptoms reported in service. The claim for a chronic disability of the lumbar spine remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease with heart failure, to include as secondary to PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the current cardiovascular disability did not have its onset during military service or within a year thereafter and is not due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are not related to his service-connected tachycardia, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, diagnosed as coronary artery disease with a history of myocardial infarctions, is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam. Therefore, his claim for service connection is granted.