Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of arteriosclerotic heart disease and thus service connection cannot be established.

The veteran's widow is appealing the denial of service connection for her husband's cause of death, which was due to occlusive coronary artery disease. The appeal has been remanded multiple times in an attempt to locate military medical records from two German facilities.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion on whether the veteran's heart disease is aggravated by his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including vision loss due to macular degeneration and arteriosclerotic heart disease with vascular hypertension and arteriosclerosis, meet the criteria for special monthly compensation at an intermediate level between those provided by 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(m) and (n).

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite to the hands and ischemic heart disease, finding that there was no reasonable basis to set aside the determination that he did not meet the legal criteria for recognition as a former prisoner of war (POW) for VA purposes. The presumptive provisions under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1112(b) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(c) were therefore inapplicable.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding that the veteran's condition may be presumed to have been incurred in service due to localized edema observed during his time as a Prisoner of War (POW).

The Board denied service connection for asthma and a heart condition, including as secondary to bronchial asthma, finding that the pre-existing asthma did not worsen during active duty training.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for recognition as a POW and service connection for ischemic heart disease, finding no evidence of ischemic heart disease in service or during the initial post-service year.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of medical records and clarification of Dr. Biggers' opinion regarding the cause of death.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, effective December 30, 2001. The Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating for this condition.,There is insufficient medical evidence to establish service connection for the veteran's claimed heart disorder and peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities.

The veteran's valvular heart disease is manifested by left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 38%, resulting in a workload limit of between two and three METs. The RO has granted service connection for this condition, assigning a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection, found no new and material evidence to reopen his hepatitis C claim, and determined that he did not meet criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound. The heart murmur and coronary artery disease were not related to active service, and there was insufficient evidence of a current disability manifested by bleeding from the anus.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise, finding that the veteran's service-connected left below the knee amputation caused or permanently worsened to a measurable degree his coronary artery disease and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disability, claimed as coronary artery disease, are not related to his military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for diplopia, an acquired heart disorder (heart murmur), and allergies, finding that the veteran's diplopia existed prior to service and was not aggravated therein. The acquired heart disorder (heart murmur) is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. Allergies are presumed to have existed prior to service.

The veteran is appealing the denial of service connection for a claimed heart disorder. The Board has requested additional medical evidence and remanded the case to the RO for further consideration.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for rheumatic heart disease, finding that the current symptoms are not more than 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease are aggravated by his service-connected bipolar disorder, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to service and his heart disability is not linked to service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that cardiovascular disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service and did not play a significant role in the events leading to his death.