Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The veteran's cause of death was due to arteriosclerotic heart disease and alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The appellant's request for an increased evaluation for anxiety-state psychoneurosis, which had been pending at the time of her husband's death, was granted with a 10% rating.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder as secondary to the coronary artery disease, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence. The veteran's heart attack during active duty training was not considered service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to nicotine dependence and tobacco use, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that he did not meet the legal requirements as a 'veteran' with qualifying service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking his diagnosed conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are not well-grounded as there is no medical evidence linking any of his current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an undisplaced fracture of the C-6 spinous process, and a heart disorder are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding of a current disability or a relationship between any in-service injury or disease and the claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the claim of service connection for a heart disorder as not well grounded, due to insufficient evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatic heart disease warrants a 100 percent evaluation, effective prior to January 12, 1998.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a high-voltage electrical shock, including heart disease and cognitive disorder. The evidence did not establish a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's death was not related to VA medical treatment, and the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that the claim is not well grounded because there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's service-connected below-the-knee amputation of the right lower extremity to his non-service connected coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction.

The Board found that the appellant's hypertensive heart disease has materially improved under ordinary conditions of life and work, warranting a reduction from a 40 percent rating to a 30 percent rating effective November 1, 1991. The eczematoid dermatitis issue remains unresolved.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining METs data from a cardiovascular specialist.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's service-connected left hip replacement for arthritis to his cause of death, and thus denied the claim.

The VA denied increased evaluations for the veteran's ASHD and HNP, maintaining current disability ratings of 30 percent and 40 percent respectively.

The Board found that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions as a result of his service, to include on a presumptive basis, or on the basis of aggravation.

The Board has granted a special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance due to multiple disabilities, including macular degeneration, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease with recurrent transient ischemic attacks, smokers bronchitis, low back syndrome with osteopenia, and mixed psychoneurosis. The appellant's left thigh gunshot wound residuals are currently evaluated at 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for asbestosis and mesothelioma, a lung condition secondary to surgical clamps and wire in the lung, and a heart condition secondary to the service-connected lung disease were denied. However, his claim for an increased evaluation of inactive pulmonary tuberculosis was granted with a 10% disability rating.,The veteran's vocal chord paralysis claim was denied, but he received a grant of total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.