Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2003

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues regarding service connection and an increased evaluation for residuals of frostbite. The veteran's representative is also asked to address how provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1154 assist in the claim for service connection for heart disease.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's current coronary artery disease with atrial fibrillation is related to his period of active service.

The Board determined that the veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease, with hypertension and coronary bypass graft were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also found that these conditions are not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety reaction, chronic with hypotension.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo and heart disease, to include hypertension. The claims for a compensable disability evaluation for suppurative otitis media of the left ear and an initial compensable disability evaluation for suppurative otitis media of the right ear were also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for rheumatic heart disease, which is now shown as likely due to aggravation by service. The veteran's preexisting rheumatic heart disease was found to have worsened during his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a right knee, neck, or heart disorder that was incurred in service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder, finding that the evidence submitted since the November 1985 rating decision is not new and material.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not have rheumatic fever or heart disease in service, and any current heart condition is not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for these conditions was denied.

The VA determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any additional disability resulting from treatment provided at the VAMC, and thus denied dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder, and thus denied the claim.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and rheumatoid arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during active duty or within any applicable presumptive periods.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and secondary service connection for coronary artery disease with history of myocardial infarction and tachycardia. The claim seeking VA compensation benefits pursuant to the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for coronary artery disease is dismissed as a result.

The Board denied an increase in the veteran's rating for hypertensive heart disease, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher than 60 percent rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, and pacemaker placement as the veteran's heart problems were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service was not considered to meet the criteria for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to his lack of qualifying active service, and he did not serve on active duty during more than one period of war. The Board denied the claim based on the appellant's service record showing a discharge from active service because of physical disability.

The veteran's organic heart disease is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board denied his claims for increased rating and total disability based on individual unemployability due to lack of evidence from a recent VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability did not cause or contribute to his death, which was due to multiple unrelated conditions including cerebrovascular accident, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, finding that the appellant did not have these conditions during or as a result of his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for COPD and CAD due to tobacco use in service were denied. The Board found that the veteran did not develop these conditions during or within one year of his service, nor was it determined that smoking caused them.

The appellant's service does not meet the threshold requirements for eligibility for VA pension benefits due to lack of active duty during a period of war and no discharge or release from service because of a service-connected disability.