Citation Nr: 18144437 Decision Date: 10/24/18 Archive Date: 10/24/18 DOCKET NO. 16-25 834 DATE: October 24, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to a rating higher than 60 percent for coronary artery disease, status post aortic valve replacement (ischemic heart disease), is remanded. Entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1955 to May 1969. Sadly, he passed away in September 2016, during the pendency of this appeal. The Appellant is the Veteran’s widow, and was recognized as the Veteran’s substitute in a February 2017 letter. These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2015 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). Although the Veteran requested a hearing in his May 2016 VA Form 9, his death renders the hearing request moot. 1. Entitlement to a rating higher than 60 percent for coronary artery disease, status post aortic valve replacement (ischemic heart disease), is remanded. The Veteran’s death certificate indicates that the Veteran passed away while an inpatient at T. Medical Center, thus identifying relevant outstanding private treatment records. The October 2015 notice of disagreement (NOD) references ongoing treatment at the O.H. Hospital, which indicates there may be more relevant treatment records than are associated with the claims file. A remand is required to allow VA to obtain authorization and request these records. 2. Entitlement to a TDIU is remanded. An attempt should be made to obtain a retrospective addendum medical opinion that considers the effects of the medication for the Veteran’s service-connected coronary artery disease on his employability. The Veteran stated in his October 2015 notice of disagreement (NOD) that the side effects of his medication for ischemic heart disease causes him to feel dizzy, confused, and have poor memory, which prevents him from working. The opinion of record considered the effects of the Veteran’s service-connected heart disease on his ability to perform physically demanding work, but has not considered the effects of medication for heart disease on his ability to perform sedentary work. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Ask the Appellant to complete a VA Form 21-4142 for T. Medical Center, the hospital where the Veteran passed away, and O.H. Hospital, which the Veteran referenced as a source of ongoing treatment in his October 2015 notice of disagreement. Make two requests for the authorized records from these facilities unless it is clear after the first request that a second request would be futile. 2. Thereafter, forward the claims file to an appropriate clinician. The clinician should identify all limitations or functional impairment caused solely by the Veteran’s service-connected coronary artery disease status post aortic valve replacement (ischemic heart disease), tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, as well as the functional impairment caused by side effects of any medication the Veteran took for coronary artery disease, prior to the Veteran’s death. The clinician is advised that the Veteran discussed side effects from his medication of feeling dizzy, confused, and having bad memory in his October 2015 notice of disagreement (NOD). 3. After the above development, and any additionally indicated development, has been completed, readjudicate the issues on appeal. If any benefit sought is not granted to the Veteran’s satisfaction, send the Appellant and her representative a Supplemental Statement of the Case and provide an opportunity to respond. If necessary, return the case to the Board for further appellate review. U. R. POWELL Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD A. Budd, Counsel