Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The Board has granted service connection for nicotine dependence incurred in service. However, the claim of entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder on a direct basis is denied as there is no evidence linking it directly to service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a heart disorder, and frozen feet due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions as being incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran submitted new evidence showing he was called to active duty for training in May and June 1993, which may be relevant to his heart condition. The RO has reopened the claim based on this new information.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition is not well grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking his current cardiovascular disabilities to his active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a finding of new and material evidence for the claim regarding heart disease. For hearing loss and tinnitus, there was no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and PTB in July 1998 due to lack of well-groundedness.

The veteran's appeal is about the initial rating for his service-connected heart disease. The Board has ordered a remand due to the veteran not responding to a request for a personal hearing before a Member of the Board at the RO.

The veteran's spouse, the appellant, is seeking an increased apportionment of the veteran's VA benefits due to financial hardship. The Board has determined that a $600 monthly apportionment on behalf of the appellant is warranted and granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant is in need of regular aid and attendance due to her multiple medical conditions, which require assistance with daily activities. The claim for special monthly pension based on housebound status is denied as she already qualifies for aid and attendance.

The Board denied the reopening of the lung condition claim due to lack of new and material evidence, and found that the heart condition claim is not well grounded.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and left arm and hand disorders, but finds that new evidence does not establish a direct causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and reactive airway disease, eczema, acne and folliculitis, and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). However, the claims are denied as they do not meet the well-grounded claim criteria. The heart disorder claim is also denied.

The veteran's recognized active service does not include status as a POW, and there is no reasonable basis to question the finding of the service department that he was not a POW. The appeal for recognition as a former POW for VA purposes is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was not well-grounded, as there was no evidence showing negligence or fault on the part of VA in causing additional disability.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claims for service connection for organic heart disease and anxiety. The veteran's current medical conditions are linked to issues in service.

The VA determined that the appellant's arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertensive heart disease does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as his condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.

The VA has granted a 60 percent evaluation for valvular heart disease, status-post aortic and mitral valve replacement, which is the highest schedular rating available. The appellant's unemployability due to service-connected heart disease is also recognized.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, but the claim remains not well-grounded due to insufficient medical evidence linking the cause of death to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for emphysema and a heart disorder, finding that there was no well-grounded evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's death was caused by hypertensive cardiovascular disease, but there is no evidence to support a service connection for the cause of his death.