Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The veteran's claims for service connection for various undiagnosed illnesses are denied as her complaints have not been objectively confirmed or linked to service.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death was not service-connected and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including headaches, heart disorder, lung disorder (emphysema), and post-traumatic stress disorder, are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his inservice exposure to fluorocarbons. The current medical evidence does not support a link between any of the veteran's diagnosed conditions and his alleged in-service exposures.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, neck pain, a low back disorder, and a heart disorder. The evidence did not support these claims as they were not shown to be related to service or any incident of service.

The Board found the appellant's claim for DIC due to her husband's blindness caused by bilateral occipital lobe infarcts under 38 C.F.R. § 3.312 and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 not well-grounded, as there was no evidence linking the veteran's blindness directly to service-connected conditions or any other compensable disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected organic heart disease with systolic murmur and hypertension does not warrant an increased disability rating beyond the current 10 percent evaluation.

The Board found no evidence that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to the veteran's death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's established service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his terminal breast cancer or heart disease to service exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disease did not begin in service and was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The RO previously denied service connection for heart disease, but this decision upheld the previous denial.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite, heart disorders including hypertension, and loss of visual acuity are not well-grounded. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's nicotine dependence, which began in service and was a result of his smoking habit, contributed substantially to his cause of death.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for a heart disability and an eye disability are not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities. The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities was also denied due to insufficient evidence of unemployability solely due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was due to service-connected conditions, specifically his COPD and ASHD. The VA medical expert concluded that nicotine dependence in service led to these conditions.

The veteran seeks service connection for residuals of rheumatic fever, claimed as irregular heart beat, coronary artery bypass surgery, and carotid stenosis. The VAHROC is instructed to obtain additional medical records from the Sioux Falls medical center and Minneapolis VA facility to support or deny his claim.

The veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease, status post three-vessel coronary artery bypass, warrants a 60 percent rating from October 24, 1991, to April 9, 1997. A total (100 percent) rating is warranted starting from April 10, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cardiovascular disease, including CHF, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, pulmonary hypertension and left common carotid artery stenosis may be induced by exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and denied both his claim for service connection for the cause of his death and his eligibility for Chapter 35 benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death, and denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran's ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred in service due to his status as a former prisoner of war who experienced localized edema during captivity.