Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2007

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, arteriosclerotic heart disease, did not develop during his active duty service and was not related to any service-connected condition. The claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease with pacemaker implantation is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.,The veteran's claim seeking service connection for multiple sclerosis has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence, but it remains denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of need for regular aid and attendance is granted due to his psychiatric disability, which requires the aid and assistance of his spouse in performing certain daily activities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's claimed coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure are related to military service.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart disorder has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, providing VCAA notice, and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's heart disease is related to his active duty service.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, but no more.,Service connection for poor heart circulation (coronary artery disease) is granted and the issue of service connection for a claimed disability manifested by poor heart circulation is dismissed as it is encompassed in the already established coronary artery disease.,The veteran's eye disability is not shown to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus service connection is denied.,Service connection for a chronic lung disorder, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death was due to ventricular tachycardia, ischemic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, and aortic stenosis. The VA physician concluded there was no relationship between the veteran's in-service rheumatic fever and his subsequent development of cardiovascular disease resulting in his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for the cause of death, which includes determining whether atherosclerotic heart disease or hypertensive vascular disease caused or contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing before a Member of the Board. The veteran and his representative will be notified of the time and date, and given adequate time to prepare.

The cause of the veteran's death, aspiration pneumonia due to atherosclerotic heart disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking his PTSD to any of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for rheumatic heart disease, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a cardiovascular disability or Meniere's disease during military service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service. Therefore, service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disability with high blood pressure is not incurred or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development related to exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, as these were not shown to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current heart disorder or bilateral shoulder disorders, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 7, 2001 for a grant of a 100 percent evaluation for coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction was denied as there is no evidence that the severity of his service-connected condition warranted such a rating prior to December 7, 2001.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for mitral valve prolapse, finding no medical evidence to support a relationship between the condition and his military service. The other two issues (onychomycosis and dermatitis) are currently stayed pending further action.