Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35 (DEA).

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for residuals of rheumatic fever and a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities. The VA found that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his service, specifically his coronary artery disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and coronary artery disease, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's heart disease with hypertension is rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertensive heart disease and hypertension, as well as a TDIU rating, were denied by the RO. The RO found that his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for these benefits.

The Board denied service connection for a cardiovascular disability, including coronary artery disease and other related conditions, as these disabilities are not shown to be directly related to the veteran's military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a heart condition as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, finding that there was no evidence that the veteran's PTSD contributed significantly to his coronary artery disease.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for ischemic heart disease, which was currently rated at 60 percent.

The Board denied the claim, finding that the veteran's coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus were not related to his in-service radiation exposure. The cause of death was determined to be myocardial infarction due to or as a consequence of coronary artery disease.

The Board found that the veteran's stroke was not caused by his service-connected heart disability, and denied an increased evaluation for his heart disability. The heart disability is currently rated at 10 percent since November 2002.

The Board finds that the veteran's cardiovascular disorders, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and cardiomyopathy, are secondary to his left leg above-the-knee amputation for which compensation has been granted under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board finds that there is an approximate balance of the positive and negative evidence regarding the appellant's claim for service connection for heart disease. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus has been raised but not yet perfected by filing a timely substantive appeal.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for heart disease, which was previously denied in December 1987. The decision is considered mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The veteran's service-connected heart disability is rated at 30 percent, which is the minimum rating following a coronary artery bypass. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating under either the old or new criteria.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date due to clear and unmistakable error in a rating decision of November 4, 1994 was denied because no benefits would have accrued to the appellant.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a post-operative cardiovascular disorder secondary to his PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of an etiological relationship between the condition and his service-connected psychiatric disability.