Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2007

The veteran's death was caused by cardio-respiratory arrest, with hepatocellular carcinoma as the contributing cause. The Board found that atherosclerotic heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease (including hypertensive heart disease) and their complications were service-connected due to the veteran's status as a former prisoner of war.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current heart disorder is related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, resulting from hypercholesterolemia during service, is granted. His spine disability remains at a 50% rating and his sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10%. The claims are all granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss.,Regarding the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a sinus disability, the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and heart disease, including arteriosclerotic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and status post myocardial infarction. The claim of service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition. New evidence submitted reopened the claims for low back disability and psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. Compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were not granted for constipation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hypertension (claimed as secondary to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus), and Coronary Artery Disease (claimed as secondary to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus).

The veteran's atherosclerotic heart disease, which was secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating during the period from May 8, 2001 to September 2, 2003.

The Board finds that the veteran's polycystic kidney disease, which contributed to his death in May 2002, was incurred during his period of active service. The cause of death - arteriosclerotic heart disease, chronic renal failure, and hypertension - is also found to be related to his service-connected conditions.

The veteran is seeking service connection for coronary artery disease, including hypertension and status post myocardial infarction. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional development regarding whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension are not related to his service-connected right kidney stones, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 12, 1991 for her grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The decision found that unemployability was first evidenced as of December 17, 1985 but the veteran did not file a claim within one year of this date.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for heart disease based on new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for vertigo and bilateral knee disorder are pending.,Service connection for heart disease is reopened, but the issue of whether it was incurred in or aggravated by active service remains unresolved.

The veteran's claim for earlier effective date was denied as the proper effective date is the date of receipt of his claim, which was August 19, 2002.

The VA denied the appellant's requests for increased evaluations for organic heart disease manifested by atrial fibrillation and bilateral hearing loss disability, assigning a 60 percent rating for the former condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to pending litigation involving Agent Orange exposure claims.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, heart disease, and cervical spine disability. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a pre-existing condition or aggravation during service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and arthritis (claimed as rheumatoid arthritis) due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection was denied for BPH, CAD, hypertension, major depressive disorder, and cataracts.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, both secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the veteran's ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA periods, as well as a need for VCAA-compliant notice.

The Board found that the November 1965 rating decision denying service connection for paroxysmal auricular fibrillation did not contain CUE. The April 1966 rating decision denying reopening of the previously denied claim was final. No new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for paroxysmal auricular fibrillation. Coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service.