Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2005

The veteran's coronary artery disease with angina is found to be aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability, warranting a grant of service connection. The special monthly compensation claim will be resolved after the heart disability evaluation due to aggravation is determined.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disease are being remanded due to procedural issues. Additional evidence has been obtained, but the RO needs to readjudicate the claims based on this new information before making a decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetic nephropathy as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol and a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The veteran's heart disability, including coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation, was previously rated at 30 percent. The Board has now determined that a higher rating of 60 percent is warranted starting from March 17, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder was not incurred or aggravated in service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disorder, finding that his current heart disorders were not related to active duty service or any incident therein.

The Board found that the cause of death, ischemic cardiomyopathy due to coronary artery disease, was not related to service or a service-connected disability. The veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a current heart disability and therefore denied service connection for a heart disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disorder and heart disorders, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the cervical spine claim and concluding that there was insufficient evidence linking the current heart conditions to service.

The veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted as his current disability of coronary artery disease has been medically linked to an event in service, specifically the October 1987 high cholesterol reading.

The veteran's service-connected anxiety neurosis with alcohol addiction is found to be causally related to his heart disorder, leading to a grant of service connection. The status of the other two claims (for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151) remains unknown.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, or heart disease as claimed. The evidence does not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is not service connected, as it was not incurred or aggravated by his active service and there is no evidence linking it to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claim for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant is denied because he does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected disabilities and non-service-connected conditions.

The veteran's coronary artery disease, associated with hypertension, is currently rated at 30 percent effective June 1, 2000. The claim for a higher evaluation prior to February 23, 2001, was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disorder, characterized as rheumatic heart disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings of arteriosclerotic heart disease and urticaria with angioneurotic edema.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, residuals of an ingrown toenail, bilateral cataracts, and a heart disorder. The veteran was also denied eligibility for VA outpatient dental treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension with heart disease and a psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service.