Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lung disease, and heart disease. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his time in military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability as secondary to diabetes mellitus and hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's diabetes. The veteran also wishes to appeal his claim for coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that his fatal heart disease was not related to service or any compensable condition within one year after discharge. The Board also found no evidence linking the veteran's cardiovascular disabilities to asbestos exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) with respect to the veteran's service connection claim for heart disease, new and material evidence claim for PTSD, and increased rating claim for chronic inactive pulmonary histoplasmosis with COPD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a medical opinion regarding the cause of death, including heart disease and hepatitis C.

The veteran is seeking service connection for heart disease, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for clarification of a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's heart disease and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his heart disorder and pes planus, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings for his claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the current medical evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and re-adjudication of all issues on appeal, including service connection claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under Chapter 35. The appellant must establish that a heart condition during service caused or contributed to the veteran's death, but there is no evidence in the record supporting this claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected hypertensive heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a gastrointestinal disability, and arteriosclerotic heart disease due to lack of evidence showing an in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his coronary artery disease is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence of current residuals of hepatitis and denied service connection for this condition. The heart, asbestos exposure, and low back disorder claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not impair his ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. Therefore, he does not have an employment handicap.

The veteran's hypertensive heart disease did not warrant a compensable rating prior to August 11, 1999 and does not warrant a rating greater than 60 percent after that date under either the old or new versions of VA regulations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for anorexia, a right shoulder disability, a back disability, a heart disability, hypertension, and sinusitis. The decision found that there was no evidence of chronic anorexia during service and no current diagnosis of an eating disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart condition is not due to disease or injury incurred in service, and it cannot be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board also found no proximate causation of the heart condition from his service-connected diabetes mellitus.