Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravates his coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining investigative reports and medical records.

The Veteran's hypertension, heart disorder, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have been addressed. The claims for service connection are granted with the appropriate ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus. The medical evidence did not support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus.

The VA has denied the claims for increased ratings for left knee patella femoral pain syndrome, right knee patella femoral pain syndrome, and left shoulder tendonitis. The evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board found no current heart disability and concluded that any heart issues are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease with history of myocardial infarction and bilateral stent replacement (diagnosed as coronary artery disease) due to new and material evidence. The claims are granted as these conditions are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran seeks service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD). The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining service treatment records and determining whether the Veteran's current heart condition had its onset during service. The case is REMANDED to the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities prevent him from successfully achieving his chosen vocational goal of pursuing a master's degree in social work. The VR&E Division found that he did not maintain satisfactory conduct and cooperation in developing and implementing the program, and mitigating circumstances beyond his control are not demonstrated.

The service-connected hiatal hernia substantially contributed to the Veteran's death, which was caused by COPD and CAD. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation from service and is not proximately due to or caused by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease was granted, with the effective date being October 22, 2009.

The Board found no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability or undiagnosed illness related to the Veteran's service, and denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran's coronary artery disease service connection claim has been received, but further development is needed before the claim may be adjudicated on its merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis and stable mediastinal lymphadenopathy have not been established. The Board has also determined that the Veteran's current lung condition is not likely related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder, which began in service and is related to his death, warrants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran was service-connected for any conditions at the time of his death, and whether these conditions contributed to his cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for arthralgia of the lower back and heart disease with ventricular hypertrophy was denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.