Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed respiratory, gastrointestinal, arthritis, heart disorder, and diabetes mellitus conditions are not service-connected. The veteran's claim for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for liver disease is also denied.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and arthritis of the knees, finding that these conditions are likely due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran has been granted a 60 percent rating for coronary artery disease post myocardial infarction effective from April 30, 2002.,A separate 10 percent rating for hypertension was assigned effective from January 12, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for severance of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and greater initial ratings for residuals of intracranial hemorrhage due to arteriovenous malformation. The appeals are denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a heart murmur and granted it. The issues of service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction and blindness are discussed in the remand that follows this decision.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD, a service-connected condition, was a contributory cause of his death from diabetes and heart disease. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, avitaminosis, malnutrition, nutritional disabilities, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection are denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and either service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of eligibility for non service-connected pension benefits, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and for DIC benefits, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection. The decision also noted that the veteran did not have a service-connected disability rated at 100 percent for ten years prior to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, coronary artery disease, low back disability, and hair loss were not incurred or aggravated during service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fibromyalgia is caused by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants this claim. The heart disorder issue remains pending as there is insufficient evidence to determine its relationship to PTSD.

The Board previously denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, and the Court granted a Joint Motion to remand due to VCAA notice issues. The case is being returned to the RO for compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and ischemic heart disease with status post coronary artery bypass graft, finding no nexus to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, accrued benefits, and death-connected pension benefits. The claim for accrued benefits was denied due to lack of legal merit.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a disability incurred in service, including as a POW. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was cardio-pulmonary arrest due to aspiration pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and ischemic heart disease.

The Board denied the veteran's request to waive recovery of an overpayment of $2,000 in non-service connected pension benefits due to his fault in not reporting concurrent receipt of Social Security benefits.

The veteran's application for Supplemental Service Disabled Veterans' (RH) Insurance was denied because his application was received after he reached the age of 65, which is a requirement under VA regulations.