Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the veteran did not present sufficient new and material evidence to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for the residuals of a shrapnel wound, including low back disorder and heart disorder. The March 1992 decision by the RO remains final.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's service-connected conditions to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings, finding that he did not submit timely substantive appeals or NODs on several issues. The appeal was dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran's memory loss is not service-connected, but his hypertensive heart disease warrants a 30 percent evaluation. The issue of an increased evaluation for hypertensive heart disease remains on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and gastrointestinal disorder as secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as his increased rating claim for PTSD and his total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for rheumatic heart disease and TDIU, finding that his current cardiovascular symptoms are attributed to other nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the veteran's service-connected rheumatic heart disease and whether he is entitled to a TDIU. The RO should obtain medical records, schedule the veteran for an examination, and readjudicate his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no well-grounded evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of death and awarded DIC benefits effective August 24, 1993. The appellant was also granted a burial allowance in the amount of $950, representing the maximum allowable under current law.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertensive heart disease, thus denying the claim.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a heart condition are not well grounded. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for otitis externa is denied as there is no evidence to support an increase in disability level.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed heart condition was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for postoperative residuals of coronary artery by-pass surgery is not well-grounded, while his claim for PTSD due to combat exposure in Vietnam is found to be plausible and granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations were not well grounded, and denied all issues related to service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to atherosclerotic heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of nicotine dependence arising in service and thus not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for rheumatic heart disease, resulting in a denial of this appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disability, including congenital pulmonic stenosis, coronary artery disease and pacemaker for brady-arrhythmia, is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or due to service.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and for residuals of a cerebral vascular accident in February 1984, finding that no heart condition was present during service or within one year after separation.