Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2001

The Board finds that the veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new schedular criteria for ischemic heart disease. The veteran's disability is therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current heart disease and service-connected angina.

The Board has determined that the veteran's ischemic heart disease, which was present during his lifetime and linked to service, is the cause of death. The Board found sufficient evidence to grant service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board finds that the veteran's heart disorder, diagnosed as patent ductus arteriosus, is not related to his military service and was likely present prior to service. Therefore, service connection for a heart disorder cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and increased the rating for left brachial plexus neuropathy to 30 percent. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral varicose veins remains denied.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to equipment failure during a scheduled videoconference hearing. He will be given the opportunity to provide testimony before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for gout, hypertension, and a heart disability as secondary to the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction. The evidence supports that these conditions have been aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for heart disease and diabetes mellitus. The July 1984 and January 1985 rating decisions denying service connection for PTSD were not found to contain clear and unmistakable error.

The reduction in the evaluation of the veteran's pleuritis from 10 percent to noncompensable is void ab initio, and a restoration of the prior rating (10%) is appropriate.,The veteran's heart condition, characterized as CAD, was incurred during his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, finding that his condition was aggravated by his active duty and not incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board found that the evidence did not reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, as it was not new and material. The cause of death was attributed to a CVA, ASHD, and pneumonia, with no link established between these conditions and his service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in active service. The Board also determined that a disability did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to cause the veteran's death.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of her husband's death, and further development is required before a decision can be made.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that his current heart disease was first demonstrated long after service and is unrelated to an incident of service, including the systolic murmur in service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to his in-service syphilis, and thus denied service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for special monthly compensation by reason of need for regular aid and attendance or being permanently housebound due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease. The evidence did not show that he required regular aid and assistance, nor was he substantially confined to his home.

The VA Regional Office denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, citing a lack of objective medical evidence linking his heart disease to his service-connected PTSD. The appellant and her representative provided additional medical opinions suggesting a link between PTSD and heart disease.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease and bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.