Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2007

The case is being remanded to the RO for further consideration of a medical opinion and the veteran's response, with a potential readjudication of the claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability or coronary artery disease that arose during service, and the VA examinations did not indicate any current symptoms related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current heart disease, and thus service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The veteran has lost the use of his right hand and foot due to peripheral neuropathy, qualifying him for special monthly compensation. He is also eligible for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment and specially adapted housing.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease were not incurred or aggravated during service and are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As a result, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus, but denied an increased rating for the veteran's cardiac disability (coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction).

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for hypertension, right shoulder disability, or heart disease.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's cause of death to service-connected conditions, and denied both the claim for service connection for cause of death and the DIC under section 1318.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current heart condition to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to uncertainty regarding the veteran's asbestos exposure and its relation to his current lung disorder, coronary artery disease, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the causes of the veteran's death (coronary artery disease, anemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus) are not service-connected.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a heart disorder as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches, finding no competent medical evidence linking the current heart condition to his migraines.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that the earlier grant of service connection was clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The issue of severance of service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, was also addressed but found proper.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date of June 28, 2001 is warranted for the award of NSC pension due to the existence of disabling conditions at that time.

The Board denied service connection for ischemic heart disease and depressed left ventricular function as secondary to service-connected mitral valve leaflet disease with aortic insufficiency.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder and a heart disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after military service. The claim for reopening a claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for rheumatic heart disease and determined that new evidence submitted by the veteran is sufficient to reopen the case. The Board also found that the preexisting condition worsened during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including atherosclerotic heart disease, peptic ulcer disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.