Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was rated at 60 percent effective September 25, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, valvular heart disease, right hand CTS, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with heel spur and pes planus have been granted initial ratings. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, hypertension, hiatal hernia, and right index finger fracture are all rated at the minimum noncompensable level. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions based on the current evidence.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a heart disorder, including tachybrady syndrome, status post pacemaker placement, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated during service and may not be presumed to have been incurred during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his transfer and treatment at Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center were deemed elective and non-emergent, thus not subject to reimbursement.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for lung cancer residuals was pending at the time of his death. His April 2005 pulmonary function test results supported an award of a 60 percent disability rating, which is granted as accrued benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues related to his service-connected PTSD, coronary artery disease, and TDIU claim. The case will be returned for further development including obtaining updated VA treatment records, a VA examination, and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and because of deficiencies in a previous VA examination.

The Board finds that none of the service-connected conditions caused or contributed to the Veteran's death. The preponderance of evidence is against granting service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and an initial compensable rating for residuals of falciparum malaria due to lack of evidence supporting active disease or residual conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart disability and increased ratings for PTSD and diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. The issue of an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with nephropathy is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for erectile dysfunction, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and coronary artery disease have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD from November 30, 2007 was denied. The RO found that the Veteran's PTSD manifested with symptoms such as difficulty understanding complex commands and impairment of short and long term memory.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart condition is more likely related to his diabetes mellitus than to his service-connected hypertension, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's heart disorder, specifically congestive heart failure, is not shown to have existed in service and there is no evidence linking it to his service-connected Crohn's disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a heart disorder has been denied.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran has coronary artery disease and/or heart disability, and whether any such disabilities are related to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has decided that additional evidence is needed and a VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's coronary artery disease, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has also been remanded.