Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of arteriosclerotic heart disease is related to his service as a prisoner of war (POW) during World War II, and thus grants service connection for a heart disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has determined that the appellant's coronary atherosclerosis is proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The residuals of cerebrovascular accident are not related to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disease secondary to diabetes, and eye disorder secondary to diabetes. The medical evidence did not support a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7913.

The Board has determined that the case requires additional medical records and a VA opinion to determine if the veteran's service-connected cold weather injury residuals contributed to his death.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, resulting in a denial of the reopening request.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and eligibility for dependents' educational assistance, finding that neither condition was related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, an eye disorder, and chest pain have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claim for increased rating for rheumatoid arthritis is also being remanded.,The VA has not provided adequate evidence or information necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection for a skin disorder, an eye disorder, and chest pain. The veteran's current disability manifested by chest pain (Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease) may be related to his active service.

The veteran died of multi-system organ failure, which was not service-connected. The appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, thus denying her eligibility for VA pension benefits as a surviving spouse.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and found that the veteran did not have qualifying service for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for hyperhidrosis, a psychiatric disability with anxiety and insomnia, a heart condition, bronchial asthma, and rheumatism, to include rheumatoid arthritis. The evidence received since the March and May 2000 rating decisions did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease cannot be earlier than September 14, 2003, as there were prior final decisions regarding this claim. The issue of service connection for a chronic low back disorder is also addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board found that none of the conditions listed as causes of death were incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his cardiovascular disabilities and kidney disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to provide a VA examination and obtain all pertinent medical records.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee and ankle conditions, have been evaluated based on their current manifestations. The heart disorder and pulmonary disorder claims are pending as they require further development.