Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's ischemic heart disease was not incurred or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that his generalized anxiety disorder did not contribute substantially or materially to his death from coronary artery disease.

The veteran's disabilities do not render him unable to care for most of his daily needs without requiring Aid and Attendance (A&A), nor are they housebound in fact. Therefore, the claim for special monthly pension based on A&A or housebound status is denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no competent evidence linking his death to either service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities, finding that new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening a claim of heart disability and denying other claims due to lack of cooperation with VA examinations.

The veteran's colon cancer is presumed to be service-connected due to exposure to ionizing radiation during military service. The Board has jurisdiction over the denial of service connection for heart disease and a psychiatric condition, but not over the denial of service connection for residuals of gallbladder removal.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased DIC benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound, finding that she is not in need of such assistance.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which is a presumptive disorder due to his internment as a prisoner of war. The service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete actions in response to previous remands. The veteran's heart and circulatory disorder claim is intertwined with his TDIU claim, so both need to be addressed together.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for coronary artery disease and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a relationship between the veteran's current condition and his service-connected pericarditis.

The Board found no competent medical evidence showing a current heart disorder (hypertension and coronary artery disease) is related to the veteran's active military service. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder on a direct basis was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service connection and increased rating for heart disease, finding that the criteria were not met.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection of the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his coronary artery disease did not contribute to his death. The veteran died from high grade B cell lymphoma.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disorder. The RO previously denied this claim in March 1987, but the veteran attempted to reopen it on multiple occasions with no success.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Board found that the veteran's fatal heart disease was not service-connected, and there is no evidence showing it was a result of his service or any service-connected conditions. The death certificate noted other significant causes contributing to death but unrelated to service.

The Board found that no service-connected disability caused or contributed to the veteran's death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's valvular heart disorder was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's conditions, while severe, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance due to his ability to care for himself with assistance from his son.