Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2006

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected hypertensive blood pressure from August 28, 2002 to May 18, 2003. The claim for an increased initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's fatal heart disease was causally related to service, including any in-service risk factors such as elevated serum cholesterol. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board found that the veteran's nicotine dependence and subsequent coronary artery disease and COPD are not service-connected, as there is no objective evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's current cardiovascular disability, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, was not incurred during his active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board found that the veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease and death were not related to his service, thus denying service connection for both.

The Board has determined that the veteran's valvular heart disease is not due to any event or incident of his period of active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease with bypass surgery and hypertension, both rated at 30 percent effective from January 12, 1998.

The veteran's cause of death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The right shoulder dislocation residuals were rated at 20 percent from March 14, 2005, and the left knee DJD was rated at 10 percent.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease warrants a 100 percent disability rating, effective January 1, 2000.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to travel for a hearing, and he has requested that the hearing be held at the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the veteran's MET workload, and a new examination is required.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and DIC benefits, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service occurrence of a bilateral knee disorder or heart disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to by his service-connected schizophrenia, and that other conditions listed as significant contributing causes of death were more likely related. The appellant's claim for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a heart disorder, which was previously denied in September 1958. The veteran's current medical records support his diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting further examinations.