Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an increased disability evaluation, finding no medical evidence linking his coronary artery disease or joint residuals to his service-connected rheumatic fever with rheumatic heart disease.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected rheumatic heart disease is being held in abeyance due to the need to address a secondary service connection claim and obtain further medical examination. The RO must also adjudicate the claim for service connection for cardiovascular disability other than rheumatic heart disease.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's coronary artery bypass graft residuals from July 22, 1991 to May 27, 1997 and denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals from May 28, 1997 to August 31, 1998.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for hypertension and postoperative residuals of coronary artery disease due to new evidence and procedural issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disease, and denied her requests for increased ratings for right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease as the evidence did not show it was incurred in service and there is no link to captivity.

The RO reduced the veteran's evaluation from 100 percent to 30 percent for coronary artery disease with hypertension, status post coronary artery bypass graft and status post myocardial infarction. The RO also granted a 100 percent evaluation based on incurrence of a myocardial infarction.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder and entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for generalized arteriosclerosis, including arteriosclerotic heart disease, is denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen a previously denied claim.

The Board found that the veteran's current heart condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to coronary artery disease. The Board is now considering whether this condition was incurred during service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA benefits due to a lack of qualifying military service, as determined by the U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Center (ARPERCEN).

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of heart disease was denied as the earliest date entitlement arose is August 25, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back injury are service-connected. However, there is no evidence of a heart disorder (claimed as a heart murmur) being related to service.

The veteran's disabilities, including coronary artery disease, right total knee replacement, and varicose vein disease, are severe enough to warrant special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance.

The veteran's service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease does not meet the criteria for vocational rehabilitation training as he is currently employed and has an employment handicap.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for effective dates of service connection and increased evaluation for peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of both lower extremities, with a rating of 40 percent effective January 12, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected fractures and pes planus, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The fracture of the right lateral malleolus was rated at 20 percent, while bilateral pes planus remained at 10 percent. The Board also dismissed the claims regarding increased evaluation for a psychiatric disorder and whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for a back disorder due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Board found that the service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to the veteran's death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.