Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims file, including obtaining medical records and clarifying the status of a hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cold injuries, arthritis, and a heart disability to include coronary artery disease. The evidence did not establish current disabilities or show that any were incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for asbestosis and service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board has determined that the veteran's atherosclerotic vascular disease, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease are not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension and congestive heart failure that is related to his active service, or to schizophrenia. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depression, increased evaluations for bladder disorder and lumbar spine disability, and a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids. The veteran's heart disorder claim was not addressed due to its separate status.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, with associated complications including chronic renal failure and hypertension, is currently rated at 20 percent. A separate compensable rating for chronic renal failure has not been granted.

The veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only is being remanded due to the need for further examination regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore service connection is denied for status post thyroidectomy, coronary artery disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, as well as his request for an effective date earlier than January 12, 1999 for the grant of service connection for residuals of a hernia. The veteran is also referred to a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO regarding the issues of claims for a higher initial rating for residuals of a hernia and for service connection for a heart disorder, including hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no medical evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and his service or service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hypertension with hypertensive heart disease warrants a 30 percent disability rating, as it includes evidence of cardiac hypertrophy and does not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and need for further medical examinations. The claims will be returned to the RO for additional development.

The veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease was not rated higher than 30% for the period from March 21, 2002 to October 8, 2003. Since October 9, 2003, his disability rating has been increased to 60%. The anxiety disorder was granted a 30% rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension with coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft does not warrant a higher evaluation as his diastolic blood pressure is under 100 and he does not have more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year or workload greater than 3 METs resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of both knees and arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, status-post myocardial infarction with coronary artery bypass grafting. Service connection was denied for hiatal hernia with reflux and renal cyst of the left kidney.

The veteran's heart condition and paralysis were not shown to be related to his military service, and the Board denied both claims.

The veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for ischemic heart disease and a compensable rating for irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The veteran's ischemic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. His irritable bowel syndrome does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.