Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2006

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and chronic bronchitis on a secondary basis to nicotine dependence that began in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. The veteran's sole service-connected disability does not render him individually unemployable.

The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorder, hypertension, and coronary artery disease due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between these conditions and the veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for evaluation of allergic contact dermatitis and service connection for coronary arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that the appeal was not well-grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, rheumatic heart disease, and depression are denied. The claim to reopen the left knee disorder is also denied. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened but denied on the merits.

The veteran's death was caused by myocardial infarction, which is a presumptive service-connected condition due to his status as a former prisoner of war. The Board granted the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the September 2001 RO decision is not new and material, thus denying the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the right and left knees have been granted initial noncompensable ratings, which were subsequently increased to 10% effective April 22, 2004. The heart condition and hypertension claims remain unresolved.

The Board determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability.,The appellant's claim for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 of Title 38 of the U.S. Code is denied as a matter of law.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, which is one of the bases for establishing entitlement to DIC. Therefore, the DIC claim must be considered on the basis of a service-connected cause of death.

The veteran's basic entitlement to nonservice-connected disability pension has been established. However, he does not meet the criteria for SMP based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The veteran's claim for PTSD was denied due to the lack of credible evidence supporting his claimed stressors.,Service connection for renal involvement with microalbuminuria and hypertension as secondary to service-connected Type 2 diabetes is not warranted because there is no competent evidence dated earlier than October 1, 2004, which would tend to link these conditions to the service-connected diabetes.,The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(i)(1) is not warranted as there is no evidence showing he had a service-connected disability rated as total and additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more prior to October 1, 2004.,The veteran's claim for an evaluation of 100 percent for coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft surgery, is not warranted due to the absence of medical records showing a workload of 3 METs resulting in weakness and fatigue on or before October 1, 2004.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the service-connected CABG and CVA residuals, as well as an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's emphysema and CAD are not related to his active duty, including exposure to asbestos. The cancer of the larynx is not service-connected as it is not linked to his service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for emphysema and CAD was denied on the basis that there is no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's active duty or any presumptive exposure to asbestos.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his employability given his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board found that the appellant's coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they related to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD was denied.

The Board denied the appellant's eligibility for VA benefits as her deceased spouse did not have qualifying service in the United States Armed Forces.