Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nicotine dependence, arteriosclerotic heart disease resulting from tobacco use in service, and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis resulting from tobacco use in service due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his active service. The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction disorder was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was not well-grounded and denied it.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is not well-grounded because there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between the veteran's fatal heart and lung disorders and any event in service, including his service-connected gunshot wound.

The Board found no causal relationship between the veteran's heart disease and the VA surgery, concluding that the heart disease was coincidental with the knee replacement.

The Board denied the claim as there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis of the sacroiliac joint to his death from coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for gouty arthritis, arthritis, heart disease, and hypertension are not well-grounded. The evidence presented since January 1987 is not new and material to reopen any of these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension, finding that there is no current medical diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The issue of service connection for a heart disorder is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a heart disorder due to new and material evidence, including post-service medical records showing right ventricular hypertrophy and ECG abnormalities within a few years following the veteran's discharge from active service. The claim is now considered well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 25, 1988, for a grant of a 100 percent evaluation for arteriosclerotic heart disease. The RO granted a 100 percent evaluation effective November 11, 1993.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and stomach disorder. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension on account of being housebound is denied as he does not meet the requirements due to his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus require additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions under both old and new rating criteria.

The veteran's unauthorized private hospitalization for an acute myocardial infarction and related conditions was not authorized by the VA, and reimbursement is denied.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death was not well-grounded, as there was no competent evidence showing a nexus between any service-connected disability and his death.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting VA examinations to assess his current level of disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current heart disability is not related to his service-connected rheumatic fever, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's claims for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and increased ratings for his knee disorders were denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to VA treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease as a residual of beriberi and assigned a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's anxiety reaction.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for heart disease as secondary to rheumatic fever, finding that there is no current evidence showing the veteran has this condition.