Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, degenerative arthritis of the shoulders, cervical spine, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees and ankles, hypertension, and arteriosclerotic heart disease are all denied as these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, impotence, vision problems, prostate problems, and diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, all claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin tumor on his right upper arm and squamous cell carcinoma of his lower lip are not related to service. The veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were also not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates, with some issues receiving a 'granted' disposition.

The Board has remanded the veteran's appeal due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his heart disability and PTSD, as well as consideration of whether staged ratings are warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received after the veteran's last VA examination, which indicated that his heart disease may be related to PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disorder existed prior to his service and did not sustain a permanent aggravation during service. Therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for this condition.

The veteran died from arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and congestive heart failure. The Board finds that the death was not caused by VA treatment or negligence.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary and the case is being remanded for additional medical examination and records.

The veteran's claims for increased PTSD, reopening a right wrist injury claim, and service connection for various conditions were denied. The denial of the PTSD claim is due to failure to meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent. The denial of the right wrist injury claim is due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was not granted for asthma, digestive disorder, broken finger (right or left), patellofemoral arthritis, headaches, bilateral hearing loss, prostatitis, skin disorders, or lung disorders.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of hypertension or coronary artery disease that is causally related to active service, and it cannot be presumed that these conditions were incurred in service. The veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted service connection but there is no evidence linking his hypertension or coronary artery disease to this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by VA medical treatment, and it is as likely as not that this carelessness or negligence contributed to his death. As a result, DIC benefits are granted.

The veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault during his last admission to the VAMC. The cause of death was due to myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure.

The veteran's claims for an effective date prior to August 24, 1998, and a higher rating for his service-connected hypertensive heart disease are being remanded for further development.

The veteran's heart and lung conditions are not service connected as they are secondary to his pre-existing nasal disability.,There is no medical evidence linking the veteran's current heart and lung conditions directly to his service-connected post-traumatic deformity of the dorsum of the nose.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and a skin disorder, both claimed as due to in-service herbicide exposure. The veteran's heart condition was not found to be related to his military service or presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board found that the veteran was not entitled to recognition as a prisoner of war for more than 30 days, and thus denied his claim for presumptive provisions under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1112. The issue of service connection for heart disease is presumed based on his recognized POW status.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the receipt of additional medical evidence that needs to be considered in light of this evidence.

The veteran seeks to establish service connection for his current coronary artery disease with stable angina, status post myocardial infarction. The VA is required to obtain the veteran's medical records from a 1984 emergency room visit and provide him with an additional examination by a VA cardiologist.