Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a stroke, mental disability (depression with psychotic features), and heart disability (coronary artery disease) have been denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during service or within one year after discharge. The current disabilities are not shown to be causally related to service.

The Board found no evidence of service-connected conditions that caused or contributed to the Veteran's death. The appellant claimed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, but there was no such evidence and the RO did not find any connection between the Veteran's post-service health issues and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of a kidney disability, heart disability, or sleep apnea for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and METs measurements, as well as further development of his claim.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for hypertension and service connection for a heart disorder, to include as secondary to the service-connected hypertension, were denied. The Board finds that TDIU has been raised in this case.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death due to coronary artery disease and diabetes. The low back disability was deemed not a proximate cause of his death, but rather a minor factor in worsening his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to continuity of symptomatology since service. The claims for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, and bilateral weakness of legs are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's CAD, status post bypass graft, is rated at 30 percent effective from January 12, 2009. His peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for an appropriate VA examination to determine if the appellant is in need of regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of hearing on some issues and because one claim is stayed based on new presumptions. The remaining eight claims are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, myocardial infarction and hypertension were not due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The evidence did not show they were incurred in or manifested within one year of discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Veteran's second period of active duty. The appeal will be deferred until the Veteran completes his current period of active duty.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for his heart, hernia, paralyzed right hemi diaphragm, and vagus nerve disorders as secondary to his left subclavian shoulder/arm disorder.

The Veteran's current heart condition, including coronary artery disease and its complications, is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and effective date have been withdrawn. The claims of emphysema, hypertension, coronary artery disease as secondary to hypertension, right knee disability, and arthritis of the left hand were previously denied by final decisions. New evidence submitted since those decisions does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, as well as compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for heart and chronic renal diseases.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus has aggravated his pre-existing coronary artery disease, resulting in a 50% increase in severity.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, residuals of stomach cancer, and an initial rating claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition. The heart disability issue is referred to the AOJ for further action.