Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2004

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to unclear findings regarding his ability to care for himself and protect himself from daily hazards.

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 arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease and low back disorder, finding no legal entitlement to these benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute to his death due to ischemic cardiomyopathy and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

The Board finds that the veteran's need for regular aid and attendance of another person meets the criteria for special monthly pension benefits, based on his multiple nonservice-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further examination and clarification of his claims, particularly regarding service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 60 percent for post-operative coronary artery disease and entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to July 16, 1996.

The Board found new and material evidence to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, but concluded that the veteran's current CAD is not related to service. The RO previously denied service connection for CAD in April 2000 on the basis that there was no nexus between the disability and service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an incomplete examination report.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and extent of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU, as well as his request for dependents' educational assistance benefits. The case is remanded to allow the RO to consider all evidence received since the last statement of the case.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability related to service and denied the claim. The heart disease issue is pending as there is insufficient information on its etiology.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection and SMC were granted by the RO on March 27, 2001. The appellant is seeking accrued benefits based on Nehmer stipulations, but there are no accrued benefits as the effective dates of the grants precede the date of payment.

The Board found that the veteran's ischemic heart disease may not be presumed to have been incurred in service due to lack of evidence of beriberi or localized edema during his captivity as a POW. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed because they died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any heart conditions he may have, including whether they are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disease, vascular headaches, and a higher rating for PTSD. The effective date for TDIU was set at June 9, 2000.

The veteran's widow is seeking service connection for the cause of his death and dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318(b). The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records, including those from Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton, New York, and an autopsy report.