Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and a psychiatric condition as secondary to her breast cancer residuals, and also denied her claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to her service-connected disabilities. The preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for nonobstructive coronary artery disease secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 17, 2004 for a 100% evaluation for PTSD and service connection for hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, malaria, and disability due to exposure to Agent Orange. The rating assigned was not specified.

The veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The RO awarded a higher 30 percent rating for coronary artery disease since September 29, 2006, but continued the initial 10 percent rating from September 28, 2001 to September 28, 2005, and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.

The Board found that the veteran's cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The only competent opinion addressing the primary contended causal relationship is that the veteran's cardiovascular diseases are not due to his service-connected nephrolithiasis with a history of pyelonephritis.

The Board has granted service connection for lung cancer, which is presumed to have been incurred as a result of the veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The other claims remain pending and will be addressed in a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic heart disorder secondary to his service-connected infectious hepatitis. The evidence now shows that he had arteriosclerotic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular accident residuals during or shortly after service, which may be related to his service-connected infectious hepatitis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim for arteriosclerotic heart disease. The Board also found no causal relationship between hypertension and active service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining information about stressors and conducting medical examinations.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of death due to her husband's service-connected PTSD contributing to his acute myocardial infarction. The veteran's coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure were not service connected, but the Board found that the veteran's PTSD substantially contributed to his February 2000 death.

The veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his in-service stressors, and the heart disability is found to be directly related to service. Both conditions are granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for proper VCAA notice and further development of his claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease, finding no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his active duty. The Board also found that there is insufficient evidence to link these conditions to military noise exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's current heart disability is not related to his in-service murmur and denied service connection for a heart disability on a direct incurrence basis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, kidney cancer, depression, hypertension, hearing loss, tinnitus, eye sight problems, and a heart disorder manifested by premature ventricular contractions due to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's death was ruled due to colon cancer, but the evidence does not support a finding that this condition is service-connected. The appellant's claims for psoriasis, heart disease, and sterility were also denied as there is no established service connection.

The VA denied a higher initial evaluation for coronary artery disease, stating that the veteran's condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating based on his current symptoms and test results.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed ASHD with CABG is not related to service or his service-connected COPD, and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's coronary artery disease is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.