Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by being housebound is remanded due to additional development needed, including obtaining treatment records and a VA examination.

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

The veteran's heart disease is found to be aggravated by his service-connected pulmonary disease, warranting secondary service connection. The veteran also meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension, atherosclerotic heart disease, or cardiovascular disease during service or within one year after service. The veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Service connection was denied for these conditions as they are not directly related to the veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of rheumatic fever, claimed as irregular heart beat, coronary artery bypass surgery, and carotid stenosis in June 2002. The veteran did not appeal this decision. He filed a new claim seeking to reopen the claim in September 2002.

The Board has denied the petition to reopen and the underlying claim for service connection for heart disease (diagnosed as coronary artery disease) due to lack of medical evidence establishing a nexus between the appellant's current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for hypertension with a pacemaker implant and history of coronary artery disease from August 26, 1996 through August 11, 1999.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including obtaining medical opinions on the onset of hypertension and coronary artery disease, scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the service-connected low back disability, and considering all relevant rating criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, valvular heart disease, and a psychiatric disability on the grounds that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's private medical expenses incurred from September 21, 2003, through September 26, 2003, are eligible for reimbursement as the services were rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused or substantially contributed to by any service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for major depression/nervous disorder, hepatitis, ischemic heart disease with hypertension (claimed as a heart condition), and grand mal seizures. The claim to reopen a claim for post-traumatic disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine was also denied.

The case is being remanded due to the inability to obtain a recording of the veteran's July 2005 video-conference hearing. The veteran has been requested to attend an additional hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the Waco RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, post-traumatic pleural fibrosis, a low back disability, atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, and acute otitis externa. The reasons were that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after separation, and the veteran did not have current diagnoses for some of the claimed conditions.

The veteran's death was caused by pneumonia due to a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD). The VA medical treatment from January to March 2000 did not cause or contribute substantially to the veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause of the veteran's heart disease, which is believed to be related to service. The VA will schedule a cardiovascular examination and obtain a medical opinion on whether the emotional and physical stresses in service are the proximate cause of the veteran's heart condition.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased initial evaluation for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from Social Security Administration and VA medical centers.

The veteran's death triggered the payment of accrued benefits due to his service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease, which had a 100% disability rating as of July 21, 1995.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, a groin disorder, residuals of cerebrovascular accident, and seizure disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected thrombophlebitis.