Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2001

The veteran's disabilities are all nonservice-connected and do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Board has determined that additional assistance is necessary to determine the exact nature and extent of the veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, as well as whether he is in need for regular aid and attendance or housebound. The RO should schedule the veteran for appropriate examinations and review all available records before deciding on his claim.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to tend to the basic functions of self-care without regular assistance from another person, and he is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected old granulomatous disease of the lungs, fractured metatarsal residuals (2nd, 3rd and 4th), displaced, closed, right foot, and coronary artery disease, hypertension with headaches.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and prostatitis, finding no current disability. The issue of an increased evaluation for cervical spine degenerative disc disease was remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound, finding that he does not meet the criteria due to his ability to perform daily activities and manage finances.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an injury or disease incurred in service and no relationship to current disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, finding that allergic rhinitis was incurred during active duty but Bell's palsy did not meet criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for heart disease, finding that new evidence supports reopening of the claim.

The Board found that the overpayment of VA compensation benefits was properly created and denied the veteran's claim for waiver of recovery.

The veteran's service-connected conditions, including coronary artery bypass graft, fractures of the pubis and pelvis, chronic otitis media, thoracotomy, hypertension, rupture of the urethra, and fracture of the left orbit with facial lacerations, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Board has restored the veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the June 1997 rating decision was clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to a clerical error in the March 1997 Board decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for reopening his service connection for rheumatic heart disease, finding no new and material evidence to support it.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the veteran's anal stricture did not substantially or materially contribute to his death and that none of the other noted primary causes of death (cardiac arrest, hypotension, sepsis, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, renal failure) were incurred in service.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and a right shoulder disability, but granted an increased rating of 10% for hypertension.

The veteran's spouse is seeking accrued benefits for the veteran, who died of Alzheimer's Disease. The claims for service connection and pension were pending at the time of his death.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of possible aggravation.

The Board found that the appellant's pre-existing paroxysmal tachycardia disorder was aggravated by his period of active duty service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.