Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's post-operative residuals of a fracture of the left humerus, effective from when the claim was filed. The increased ratings for coronary artery disease and hearing loss of the left ear are still pending.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's heart disease to his military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The veteran's heart disease, specifically arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension, was evaluated at a 30 percent rating prior to January 12, 1998. After that date, the evaluation remained at 30 percent due to the absence of more severe symptoms or disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease secondary to his service-connected chronic anxiety and depressive disorder, as well as his claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected rheumatic heart disease with mitral stenosis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of the record.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly pension by reason of being permanently housebound due to lack of substantial confinement to her home or immediate premises by permanent disability.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in service, is not causally related to his period of service or to his service-connected post traumatic stress disorder, and is not aggravated by the service-connected post traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a heart disability, glaucoma of the left eye, or refractive error of the left eye. The veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance, finding that there was no clinical record prior to September 7, 1995, showing the criteria for aid and attendance benefits were met.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and his combined service-connected disabilities are rated at 70 percent. The Board finds that the evidence supports a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease as secondary to ulcerative colitis and granted a 10% evaluation for osteoporosis of the right knee. The Board also granted a 20% evaluation for healed sacroiliitis effective from March 24, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and heart disease, finding no evidence of such conditions during service or a link to service.

The Board has granted a 30% rating for rheumatic heart disease effective January 12, 1998. Prior to that date, the condition was rated as 10%. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatic heart disease was incurred during service and is not due to a pre-existing condition. The claim for service connection is therefore granted.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, increased ratings for PTSD and cervical spine degenerative joint disease. The veteran's PTSD was found to be well grounded but not warranting an increase in rating prior to October 30, 1998, while his cervical spine condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating before April 24, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a heart disability and heroin addiction due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board found no current disability for which service connection may be granted, as the heart murmur in service has not been shown to be any more than a defect and does not rise to the level of a disability. The veteran's claim is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between any diagnosed conditions and his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired eye disorder, a shrapnel wound of the left foot, and ischemic heart disease. The evidence submitted since 1991 did not provide new and material evidence to support these claims.