Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and an increased rating for infectious hepatitis. The veteran was not granted service connection as his claimed conditions were not present in service or linked to military service, and no new evidence had been submitted to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his heart disease, including congestive heart failure and idiopathic cardiomyopathy, was caused by exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Board concluded that there is insufficient medical evidence linking the veteran's current heart condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cold injury, onychomycosis, hypertension/heart disease, anxiety disorder, and headaches as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder, including atrial fibrillation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's need for aid and attendance began on March 18, 1997, and awarded an effective date of that date for special monthly compensation.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's diagnosed conditions to his chemical exposure during service. The case is being remanded for further development of records from the VA medical center in Dallas, Texas.

The veteran's PTSD is found to be incurred in service due to a personal assault. The heart disability and hypertension are linked to the veteran's PTSD, meeting the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions, including heart disease, thyroid disorder, diabetes mellitus, and cataracts, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence did not support a finding of secondary service connection either. As such, service connection was denied for all issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, lung disorder, hand or wrist disorder (to include bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome), and foot disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an angiolipoma and heart disease, as well as a claim for an increased evaluation for his deviated nasal septum. The appeals were all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for coronary artery disease, secondary to peptic ulcer. The claim for Môniére's disease is remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating for migraine headaches and service connection for valvular heart disease. The migraine headache claim was denied as there is no medical evidence showing very frequent, completely prostrating attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The valvular heart disease claim was not warranted as there is no current condition that can be linked to the appellant's active military service.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that his death was not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and it is not proximately due to a service connected disorder. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status has been denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is pending.

The Board denied service connection for heart, left foot, and stomach disabilities. It also denied increased evaluations for right hip and palmaris longus tendonitis.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for coronary artery disease and SMC based on housebound criteria is denied.