Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's cardiovascular disorder, diagnosed as cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease, had its origins during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is not warranted due to lack of evidence linking his death to a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, heart disease, and arthritis due to new evidence received since the final denial in April 1996. The claims are now pending before the Board.

The veteran's claims for reopening his psychiatric disorder claim and service connection for a heart condition are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or at the housebound rate.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the veteran's coronary artery disease and hyperlipoproteinemia are related to his service.

The veteran's total disability due to service-connected disabilities allows him to be reimbursed for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on June 13, 2003. The emergency condition and lack of feasible VA availability support the reimbursement.

The Board has granted service connection for hyperlipidemia and secondary coronary artery disease, finding that the veteran's pre-existing hyperlipidemia was aggravated during his period of active duty. The claim for an increased evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for astigmatism, high cholesterol, and a left hand disability (carpal tunnel syndrome) are denied. The heart disability with hypertension is not related to active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, a back injury, hepatitis C, and hypertension and heart condition. The Board found no evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and sinusitis as they are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence for both issues, including a need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and coronary artery disease, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss, heart condition (claimed as a murmur), GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome were not incurred or aggravated by service. The vision impairment is considered to be a refractive error.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, to include ischemic heart disease and hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected residuals of pulmonary tuberculosis. The evidence does not support a finding that the heart disability is related to service or service-connected conditions.

The veteran's cause of death was not related to his active duty service, and the appellant did not meet the one-year deadline for filing a claim for accrued benefits.

The Board is requesting further development of the evidence to determine if the veteran's service-connected anxiety reaction contributed substantially or materially to his death from coronary artery disease.

The Board found no medical evidence indicating a nexus between the veteran's in-service systolic heart murmur and any current heart disability, including hypertension. Therefore, service connection for a heart disorder with hypertension was denied.