Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2002

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular disability, including arteriosclerotic heart disease, myocardial infarction, three-vessel coronary artery disease, and hypertension (claimed as hypertension), due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, lung disorder as a result of exposure to herbicide agents, heart disease, and hypertension. The evidence did not support these claims.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease. The evidence submitted since the August 1991 rating decision is either cumulative or does not provide a link between the veteran's current heart condition and his active military service.

The VA denied service connection for heart disease, finding that the condition was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is not related to any service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's service-related injuries, including his gunshot wounds and hypertension, were contributory causes of his death from coronary atherosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for cause of the veteran's death, which was previously denied. The appellant is now entitled to service connection for cause of her husband's death due to atherosclerotic heart disease caused by essential hypertension.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of rheumatic fever with rheumatic heart disease and mitral valvulitis do not produce significant functional impairment, and thus denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a heart disorder during service or for many years after service, and the current heart disorder is not related to service. The claim for service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The veteran's heart disease, for which he had coronary artery bypass surgery in 1999, is considered permanently and totally disabling for VA non-service-connected pension purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for CAD with hypertension and bronchial asthma, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for bronchial asthma.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arteriosclerosis of the extremities, coronary artery disease, respiratory disorders, skin disorders, left leg amputation, blood disorder, malaria, and right ear perforation, all claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis or association with these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for hypertension with coronary artery disease, psoriasis, and lumbosacral strain due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected hypertensive vascular disease with coronary artery disease, chronic glomerulonephritis, and postoperative angioplasty with stent insertion. The RO had previously granted a 60 percent rating effective April 8, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease did not worsen as a result of surgery and treatment at a VA medical facility in September and October 1995, thus denying his claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, coronary artery disease, was not related to his military service and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board finds that the veteran did not have malaria in service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking his current heart disease to service. Therefore, both claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to a lack of evidence showing that any of the listed conditions are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and grants this claim.