Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2001

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease as secondary to COPD and assigned a 50 percent evaluation for sinusitis effective from July 2, 1991.

The Board found no current evidence of a heart disability, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus. The veteran's claims for these conditions were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the claimed disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was related to his service-connected thromboangiitis obliterans.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia, is as likely as not related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings, finding that there was no evidence of a hearing loss during or subsequent to service. The hiatal hernia did not meet the criteria for an increased rating as it did not cause significant impairment of health. The genital herpes/postoperative laparoscopy, pelvic inflammatory disease were controlled with treatment.

The Board has denied the veteran's application for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of evidence showing service-connected disability that meets the criteria for such benefits.

The Board denied restoration of service connection for organic heart disease and mitral valve stenosis, finding that the veteran's condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and coronary artery disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The veteran's PTSD symptoms, including anxiety, depression, anger, and sleep problems, have rendered him unemployable since November 7, 1995. He also had a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, and experienced a myocardial infarction during VA treatment in October and November 1996.

The Board has determined that the unauthorized emergency room medical expenses incurred by the veteran in June 1998 were related to his service-connected cardiovascular disability and found that VA facilities were not feasibly available, thus granting the claim for payment or reimbursement.

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for right knee arthritis and a heart disorder, thus denying these claims.

The Board has determined that the RO's decision regarding death pension and accrued benefits was not properly addressed, necessitating a remand for further development.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's service-connected schizophrenia contributed substantially or materially to his death from heart disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for organic brain syndrome with seizure disorder and rheumatic valvular heart disease, finding that there was no indication of these conditions in service and they first appeared many years after service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, as new and material evidence has been presented. The case will be further reviewed to determine if service connection can be granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptations due to his ability to walk without assistance and lack of significant visual disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease, including coronary artery disease with residuals of coronary artery bypass grafting, was initially manifested during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for atherosclerotic heart disease with hypertension, as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code. As a result, the claims remain denied.