Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The veteran's anxiety state with migraine headaches and heart disability are both service-connected, but the claims for asbestosis and suprasellar teratoma are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for atherosclerotic/atherosclerotic heart disease and an increased disability evaluation for hypothyroidism, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between his service-connected conditions and these disabilities.

The Board has determined that a hearing before a Member of the Board is needed due to the appellant's request, and thus the case is being remanded for further action.

The veteran died from COPD, but his service-connected heart disease and duodenal ulcer did not contribute to his death.,The appellant's claim for basic eligibility for dependents' educational assistance was denied as the veteran had no permanent total disability rating at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of and treatment for hypertensive ischemic heart disease is etiologically related to his period of active service, specifically showing borderline hypertension during service which had gotten worse over time. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The RO granted service connection for coronary artery disease secondary to beriberi and POW experiences, assigning a disability rating of 60 percent effective September 22, 1993.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for rheumatic heart disease, service connection for a back disorder as secondary to rheumatic heart disease, and service connection for an esophageal disorder. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the failure to perform an EKG or other test during treatment in 1991 with the veteran's current heart disability, and thus denied the claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found no current evidence of a heart disorder or hypertension, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for organic heart disease and did not grant compensable evaluations for residuals of malaria and malnutrition, nor ratings in excess of 10 percent for neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, with hypertension, is currently rated at 60 percent. The medical evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no symptoms of congestive heart failure or angina on moderate exertion.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded, as there was no competent medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death due to a service-connected disability. However, it is denied as there is no evidence that the veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death is not well grounded and denied it. The appeal regarding eligibility for educational assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35 was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board found that the veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease does not warrant a rating higher than 60 percent, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current heart disease or gunshot wound to service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's cause of death to his service or any service-connected conditions, and thus denied the claim as not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized private hospitalization and medical expenses is granted as the treatment was necessary due to a medical emergency, and no VA or other Federal facilities were feasibly available.