Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and found that the veteran's claims for reopening his claims of service connection for headaches and residuals of a chest injury were not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection are well-grounded and have granted them, finding that his chronic infections and heart disorder are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that cardiovascular disease which caused the veteran's death, including coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, began during active military service and is therefore service-connected.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine the extent of his service-connected coronary artery disease, left facial weakness, and left upper/lower extremity disabilities.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for increased hearing loss was also denied.

The veteran's claim for additional educational training under Chapter 31 was denied as he already had the necessary education, experience, and skills to be employed in suitable occupations.

The veteran's overpayment of disability pension benefits was waived due to his inadvertent failure to report receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits, which were effective from March 1997. The Board found that the veteran's misrepresentation did not rise to the level of fraud or bad faith.

The Board denied service connection for cardiovascular disorder, including coronary artery disease, on a secondary basis due to tobacco use. The decision found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current condition to his tobacco use in service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. The Board finds that the veteran's valvular heart disease is related to his service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions were granted, with the exception of the right elbow disability. The coronary artery disease was increased to 30 percent, hemorrhoids to 10 percent, low back disability to 40 percent, and right hand disability to 10 percent.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 16, 1994 for the award of disability benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident with homonymous hemianopsia and heart disability as the result of VA medical treatment.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease due to a lack of evidence showing treatment or diagnosis in service, and no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to any service-connected injury.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's thrombophlebitis of the left leg, effective from April 1992. The claim of service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to his service-connected thrombophlebitis is considered well grounded.

The veteran's service-connected bronchiectasis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sinusitis are found to be of such severity as to prevent him from engaging in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational attainment and occupational experience, warranting a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral pterygium and determined that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for heart disease.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypertension with coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a comprehensive VA examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and above the left knee amputation.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the current 30 percent evaluation adequately reflects his disability.

The veteran died due to multiple service-connected conditions. The appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for DIC benefits was denied as there is no evidence of a prior application filed before March 7, 1995.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease are not well grounded.