Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2006

The veteran's initial ratings for coronary artery disease and hypertension have been granted, with the coronary artery disease receiving a 30% rating from December 9, 1997 to August 24, 2001; a 60% rating from August 25, 2001 to July 18, 2004; and hypertension receiving a 10% rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease had its onset during his period of active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder and a schizoid personality disorder, have been denied. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, and post-traumatic osteoarthritis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of recent medical evaluations.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person (A&A) or at the housebound rate was denied because his service-connected coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass grafting does not render him so helpless that he requires regular A&A.

The Board found that the veteran's rheumatic heart disease with mitral insufficiency is inactive and does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a diagnosed heart disability, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection. The increased rating claim for right knee disability was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis and an increased rating for mitral heart disease prior to June 23, 2005. The Board found that arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and that there is no competent evidence relating the veteran's arthritis to any disease or injury which occurred during active military service. For his mitral heart disease, the schedular criteria for a 30 percent evaluation were met prior to June 23, 2005.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and the reopening of a claim for back disability. The heart disorder and tuberculosis claims were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current coronary artery disease is related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that it is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by or a result of his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's coronary artery disease is reasonably shown to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim of service connection for heart disease, claimed as secondary to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been denied multiple times. The case is being remanded due to procedural issues and the need for a VCAA compliant letter.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and also found that the appellant did not meet the requirements to be eligible for VA nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The RO granted a 60 percent rating for ischemic heart disease effective from February 15, 2005. The other claims were denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The claims will be returned to the Board once this is done.