Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder exacerbates his heart disorder, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder on an aggravation basis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder is not related to his service-connected abdominal disability and therefore, he cannot establish a well-grounded claim for secondary service connection. The VA rating assigned for his postoperative residuals of a ruptured appendix with resection of the ileum remains at 60 percent.

The veteran's cardiovascular disabilities, including coronary artery disease, paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, and hypertension, are rated at a single entity of 30 percent. The RO has granted an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected cardiovascular disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disability, back disability, left hand disability, and rheumatic heart disease are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is not well grounded, as there is no competent evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease and lung disease are not well grounded, as there is no credible evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder as secondary to his service-connected depressive reaction with syncope and neurodermatitis, entitlement to a disability evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected depressive reaction with syncope and neurodermatitis, and entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities. The Board found that the veteran's heart disorder was not related to his service or any service-connected condition.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted, allowing the veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for heart disease as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder to be reopened. The Board also determined that the veteran has coronary heart disease that is secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder, warranting a grant of service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound due to his nonservice-connected coronary artery disease status post angioplasty times two with hypertension. The case is remanded for further development, including a cardiology examination.

The Board found no service connection for the cause of death and denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and heart disorder, as well as his request for an effective date earlier than January 28, 1997. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a knee disorder is still pending.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection because there was no medical evidence linking his current coronary artery disease to his military service.

The veteran's heart disease with hypertension was restored to a 100 percent disability rating.

The veteran's death was caused by his service-connected rheumatic heart disease, which contributed to the development of arteriosclerotic heart disease and congestive heart failure.

The Board denied the reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension, status post myocardial infarction and stent placement is currently manifested by angina on moderate exertion, warranting a 100 percent evaluation.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's post-service coronary artery disease and cardiovascular insufficiency to tobacco use in service, thus denying his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that stress from PTSD aggravates these conditions.

The Board found that the January 20, 1995 rating decision involved CUE as it did not consider a private medical report submitted by the veteran in July 1994. The claim for disability compensation for heart disease under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is well grounded and remanded for de novo adjudication.