Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence for a prostate disorder, and found no link between his current coronary artery disease with hypertension and active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is not related to his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the veteran's internment as a prisoner of war. The conditions are presumed based on localized edema experienced during captivity.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not related to any injury or disease incurred in active service.

The Board found that the veteran's current heart diseases (congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease) are aggravated by his service-connected right elbow disability, and granted the claim.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of myocardial infarction with double vessel coronary artery bypass surgery due to hypertension, effective from April 4, 1997. The evidence shows that the veteran had a typical history of acute coronary occlusion or thrombosis and more than light manual labor was not feasible.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease with aortic valve stenosis, postoperative, and aortic valve disease were not incurred or aggravated by military service. The preexisting condition of aortic valve disease is presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his post-traumatic stress disorder and right knee disability. The Board found that these conditions have aggravated the veteran's heart disease.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of rheumatic fever, coronary artery bypass surgery, and carotid stenosis due to a lack of evidence showing rheumatic fever in service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for additional death pension benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound due to her disabilities, finding that she does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a heart disorder due to new evidence, but denied service connection for headaches.,Service connection is granted for a heart disorder as it is proximately due to or the result of service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a heart disorder, which was previously denied in 1958. The current medical records do not provide sufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during active military service and granted this claim. The appeal for service connection of a heart disorder was withdrawn by the veteran, resulting in its dismissal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected abdominal condition, and thus denied secondary service connection for a heart disorder. The evaluation for postoperative residuals of a ruptured appendix with resection of ileum remains at 60 percent.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the January 1993 decision did not provide a clear link between the veteran's current arteriosclerotic heart disease and his service, thus denying the reopening of his claim.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for rheumatic heart disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for rheumatic heart disease, as the newly provided medical records do not establish a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Deaconess Medical Center for his service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease were approved due to the emergent nature of his condition and the lack of feasible VA facilities.