Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, coronary artery disease secondary to PTSD, nicotine dependence due to inservice tobacco use, cardiac disability due to inservice tobacco use, and pulmonary disorder due to inservice tobacco use. The decision was based on a finding that there were no confirmed stressors in Vietnam and insufficient evidence of a diagnosed PTSD.

The veteran's claim for TDIU benefits was granted effective November 1, 1995. The decision found that the veteran had been unemployable due to service-connected conditions since November 1, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected nicotine dependence aggravated his hypertension, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction. Therefore, these conditions are granted as secondary to nicotine dependence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) in March 1989, finding that his combined disability rating of 80% did not render him totally unemployable. The decision is final.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation were denied as the earliest date of entitlement was October 17, 1997.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service or any incident of service, including his time as a POW. The Board concluded that the veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease is not related to beriberi heart disease.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiovascular disease, finding it is secondary to the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet, as required for eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of pneumonia and heart disorder with associated lung disorder, finding new and material evidence. The appeal is granted.

The VA has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death and denied entitlement to accrued benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for heart disorder, right shoulder disorder, and bilateral knee disorder due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of bronchiectasis contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death. The appellant is also eligible for dependents' educational assistance benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen her claim for service connection for cause of death, finding no new and material evidence that would support reopening the claim.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of heart disease and found no evidence to support service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for cause of the veteran's death in January 1984. The appellant submitted new evidence, but it was not considered material as it did not provide a new factual basis for allowing the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back and heart disorders are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within one year of separation, and there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to any inservice injury or disease.

The Board has determined that the appellant's actions did not constitute fraud, misrepresentation or bad faith and therefore, waiver of recovery of the overpayments of VA pension benefits is not precluded by law.

The Board denied the veteran's spouse's request for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any in-service condition to the veteran's death.

The VA determined that the veteran's hypertension with hypertensive heart disease warranted a 30 percent evaluation, effective from August 27, 1991. The Board denied an increased evaluation beyond this initial rating.