Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during service. Therefore, service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder, finding no evidence of in-service onset or aggravation. The secondary claim for service connection for unstable angina was granted. The claim to reopen his previously denied herniated lumbar disc claim was not reopened.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants secondary service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rheumatic heart disease became manifest during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a left knee injury, manifested by residual scarring and traumatic arthritis is granted. The claims for right knee and bilateral leg disorders as well as heart disease are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing heart disability, manifested by coronary artery disease, worsened during his period of active service from December 1996 to September 1997. The worsening was attributed to unchecked cardiac risk factors (family history, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and nicotine abuse) rather than natural progression.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his cardiovascular disorders were not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability, including narcolepsy.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, finding no evidence of such condition in the record. The veteran's appeal was based on alleged diagnoses from military physicians and periodic chest pains, but these were not substantiated by current medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have arthritis of the left shoulder or a heart disorder that is related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's heart disability to service, including presumed herbicide exposure. The claim for secondary service connection based on PTSD was also denied.

The veteran's heart disorder is being remanded for further development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issue of secondary service connection for the heart disorder due to diabetes mellitus will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is secondary to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss or a heart disability that is attributable to service. The VA audiologist opined that it was not likely that his hearing difficulties were precipitated by military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a conclusion that the veteran has a current back disorder that is the result of service, including by way of aggravation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, to the extent it is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD warrants a 70 percent evaluation since November 1998, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board found that the veteran's schizophrenia did not cause or contribute to his death, and since he was receiving a total disability rating due to service-connected conditions for less than ten years prior to his death, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and an increased rating for bronchial asthma. The Board found no direct or secondary service connection, and concluded that the current disability ratings were appropriate.