Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound due to lack of evidence showing a need for regular assistance from another person or substantial confinement to her home.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a direct connection to active duty or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatic or valvular heart disease as secondary to his service-connected residuals of rheumatic fever and a claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of rheumatic fever. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current heart disorders to the in-service episode of rheumatic fever, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that his heart disease was secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The right leg disorder claim was not addressed as it pertained to reopening of a previously denied claim.

The veteran's cause of death was attributed to Parkinson's disease, with hypertension and coronary artery disease as contributing conditions. The Board has ordered a remand for obtaining medical opinions regarding whether the service-connected peripheral vascular disease contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary with regard to the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The RO should obtain all relevant medical records and request an opinion from a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the veteran's coronary artery disease and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, kidney disorder, incontinence, prostate enlargement (claimed as prostate cancer), arthritis of multiple joints and the spine, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The decision found no evidence of these conditions during active duty or continuity of symptomatology thereafter.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected right bundle branch block, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's appeal is currently on hold due to a stay imposed by the Secretary of VA. The issues related to service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, bilateral neuropathy of the feet, bilateral vision problems, loss of a right foot toe, and bilateral ulcers of the feet are subject to this stay. Hypertension remains an issue that will be addressed once the stay is lifted.

The veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease with coronary artery disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and his erectile dysfunction does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, Type II, lupus erythematosus, and hypertension. The evidence does not establish that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The heart condition claim was not addressed due to lack of information.

The veteran's cause of death was due to cardiorespiratory arrest, pneumonia, and other conditions not related to his military service. The Board denied the claim for nonservice-connected death pension as he did not have wartime service or entitlement to compensation for a service-connected disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural defects, including the need for an SOC on the earlier effective date claim and a readjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and to reopen his claims, except for prostate cancer which was granted based on Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and respiratory disorder, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease and left ventricular hypertrophy, along with renal insufficiency, contributed to his death. As the veteran was a former prisoner of war, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility for dependents' educational assistance due to lack of evidence linking the veteran's pancreatic cancer to his time in service.