Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for heart disease and gastrointestinal conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's SMC (r)(2) benefits for need of aid and attendance are granted, effective March 31, 2015. The RO failed to apply the correct rate due to a LCR error in applying asbestosis and coronary artery disease.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity venous insufficiency as secondary to the service-connected asbestosis. The VA medical opinion provided prior to the rating decision is inadequate.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his coronary artery disease, migraine headaches, and diabetes mellitus type II have been dismissed as moot due to the submission of a timely NOD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person to perform personal care functions of everyday living or to protect him from the hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment, leading to a grant of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and secondary service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) as a result of the Veteran's hypertension. The decision is based on clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran did not have hypertension prior to service, but it worsened during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. The Veteran will be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his heart condition.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was denied service connection as it manifested more than one year after separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service injury or disease. The claims for psychiatric, heart, cervical spine, low back, bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are remanded due to the failure to obtain examinations and opinions concerning their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, including arteriosclerotic heart disease (CAD), finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of non-obstructive coronary artery disease does not meet the criteria for ischemic heart disease and is not related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a pulmonary condition, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and cirrhosis of liver.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete efforts to obtain private medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Airforce Base in Thailand is presumed. The decision also notes that the Veteran worked on or near the perimeter of the base for approximately six months.

The Board has remanded the claim for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for coronary artery disease, to include as secondary to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart condition, including early repolarization and its relation to service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's cause of death was cardiac arrest due to chronic hypertension. The appellant contends the Veteran traveled to Vietnam and was presumptively exposed to Agent Orange, which would make his coronary artery disease service-connected. However, the Board found that the USS Constellation did not traverse within 12 nautical miles of Vietnamese waters during the Veteran's deployment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a TDIU rating from August 9, 2012. The case is remanded for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation prior to this date.

The Board has accepted the Veteran's legacy NOD as timely and remanded for development, including issuance of an SOC. The issues of higher ratings for coronary artery disease, migraine headaches, and diabetes mellitus type II are now before the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has decided that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer as a result of exposure to herbicide agents can be adjudicated. The VA will need to obtain authorization and request private treatment records from St. Luke's Medical Center, Dr. S.M., Dr. J.T., Dr. C.L., and Dr. J.S. Additionally, efforts should be made to verify whether the USS Intrepid operated within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during the Veteran's service.

The Board has found that further development is required due to the need for a remand. The Veteran's heart disability claim, which was previously denied, is now being reviewed again as there are new medical opinions and additional evidence.