Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, skin rashes, benign prostatic hypertrophy, coronary artery disease, and essential hypertension have all been denied due to lack of evidence showing a direct or presumptive link to his military service.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating for coronary artery disease and service connection for psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders secondary to his cardiac disability. The VA found that the current 30 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of the cardiovascular condition.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current sleep apnea, vision loss, diarrhea, or coronary artery disease to his period of service.,Coronary artery disease was not shown to have had its onset during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and cannot be presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including medical examinations and opinions on the issues of service connection for pain to major joints, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a heart disorder secondary to a service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus with diabetic neuropathy, hearing loss, coronary artery disease, and shortness of breath. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with VCAA notice. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease with angina, which was granted in March 10, 2005. The RO must provide VCAA notice regarding the evidence needed to support his claim for an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the appellant's coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, meets the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating.

The Board previously denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular disease. The Court has granted a Joint Motion for Remand, and the case is now being remanded to the RO for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, and the right lower extremity were denied as not related to his military service.,Effective August 30, 1977, service connection was granted for hearing loss.

The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was attributed to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder. The VA is requested to obtain medical records from Rollins Brook Community Hospital and provide an opinion on whether the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his fatal myocardial infarction.

The veteran's death was caused by cardio-respiratory arrest due to coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, pneumonia, and diabetes mellitus. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor did they contribute substantially or materially to the cause of his death. Additionally, the appellant is not eligible for Survivors and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits as her husband's disability was not rated 100% disabling at the time of his death.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral ankle disability as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for arteriosclerotic heart disease and lumbosacral strain with bilateral sacroiliac arthritis have been denied, and the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for instability of the right knee has also been denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and hypertension, finding no current disability or evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's February 6, 2004 medical expenses at Parkland Health Center were reasonable and necessary due to his known history of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. The treatment was deemed emergent given his symptoms and blood pressure readings.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his shell fragment wounds of the right arm and left wrist were denied. The VA found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's death was due to a combination of cardiovascular risks, including coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The service-connected diabetes mellitus did not contribute materially or substantially to his cause of death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and heart disease, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and a psychiatric disability as secondary to his heart disability.