Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's spouse's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance beyond June 13, 1998 due to lack of legal merit and absence of evidence showing a physical or mental disability prevented her from initiating or completing her chosen program within the applicable delimiting period.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for his cause of death and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance due to a lack of evidence linking his heart disease to his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for heart disease secondary to service-connected schizoaffective disorder, but denied his claim for service connection due to mustard and/or nerve gas exposure. The decision is considered mixed as some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disorder and left inguinal hernia repair, but denied a higher rating for hiatal hernia with reflux. The veteran's claim is well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nephrolithiasis, coronary artery disease, cognitive disorder, and eye disorders on a direct basis and as residuals of mustard gas exposure during service. The RO found that there was no nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for arteriosclerotic heart disease and myositis, lumbosacral paravertebral.

The veteran's ischemic heart disease was not incurred in service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 50 percent evaluation. Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted on a secondary basis due to the veteran's PTSD, while service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking the cause to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, status post double bypass graft, finding that he was not a 'veteran' as defined by applicable law and VA regulations when he had his heart attack. Therefore, basic eligibility for veterans benefits based on a period of civilian employment with the U.S. Army Missouri National Guard from 1987 to 1995 has not been established.

The veteran's heart disorder, chest pain, and congestive heart failure are not considered to be the result of the June 1995 VA surgical and radiation treatment. The Board found that without this treatment, his lung cancer would have progressed but did not recur.

The veteran's claims for increased rating of his service-connected hypertensive heart disease, and service connection for cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease as secondary to this condition have been granted.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of asthma and heart disease as being related to service, including his Persian Gulf service. The veteran's current conditions are not considered well-grounded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection due to a lack of timely submission of a substantive appeal.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, psychiatric disorder, and skin disorder. However, it denied these claims on their merits.

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. The reopened claim is now considered de novo, including whether it is well-grounded.

The veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension and peripheral vascular disease contributed to his death. The veteran's diabetes mellitus was incurred in service, warranting the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board found that the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD, nicotine dependence, ASHD and COPD secondary to nicotine dependence are well grounded. The appeals were granted as the evidence supported a link between in-service tobacco use and current conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and hypertension secondary to his service-connected bronchial asthma is not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the back, hypertension and aorta stenosis, lung disorder, and gout are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.