Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2007

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for the cause of death, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for coronary artery disease and sleep apnea. The veteran's contentions regarding the etiology of his conditions have been considered, but there is insufficient medical evidence to support a finding of service connection.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was granted a 100% disability rating effective September 28, 2005. Prior to this date, the symptoms did not warrant such high ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, finding that these conditions are related to the veteran's military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral arm nerve damage and a disability rating of 60 percent for coronary artery disease. The claim for an increased rating for type II diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under section 1318.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease did not originate in service, is not a result of his service-connected PTSD or diabetes, and therefore cannot be granted as secondary to these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease and post-traumatic stress disorder due to missing service medical records, lack of cooperation from the veteran in providing additional information, and the need to obtain private medical records and details regarding the PTSD stressor.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The claim for increased rating and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the veteran's duty status during his active military service and obtaining all relevant medical records. The issues of a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, TDIU, and reopening the claim for coronary artery disease are also being addressed.

The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that the veteran did not have a heart condition during service or within one year of discharge. The Board also found no evidence linking the current diagnosis to his prostate cancer.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that the earliest date after the June 2002 rating decision when the veteran expressed intent to file a claim was August 20, 2003.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for hypertensive heart disease effective January 12, 2007. The veteran's condition met the criteria for this higher rating prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and diverticulitis, finding that the diseases did not manifest during or within one year after service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, heart condition, lung condition, and visual impairment as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, left index finger fracture residuals, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, frostbite residuals, gastrointestinal disorder, and otitis media.

The veteran seeks service connection for a heart or cardiovascular disability, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected pericarditis with diastolic dysfunction and/or asbestosis. The appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between coronary artery disease and the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of nonservice-connected disability pension benefits was withdrawn by the veteran.