Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2007

The veteran died from anoxic cerebral injury, cardiopulmonary arrest, and coronary artery disease. The VA medical care provided did not meet the criteria for 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 as there was no evidence of negligence or lack of proper skill on the part of VA in providing treatment.

The Board has denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence has been presented.

The veteran's death was caused by coronary artery disease, a non-service-connected condition. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred during service and denied service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including a lumbosacral strain, residuals of excision of warts on the right hand, residuals of frostbite of the nose, and fractures of the fingers and ribs. Service connection was also denied for hemorrhoids, heart condition, prostate cancer, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, gland problem/prostate disorder, and hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 14, 2004 for a 100 percent rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease and a separate 10 percent rating for hypertension was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability within the year prior to July 14, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Arthritis, Heart Disease, Bronchitis, and Residuals of a Gunshot Wound to the Left Foot. The claims are denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for rheumatic heart disease, inactive, with mild aortic valve regurgitation. The Board has determined that additional medical opinion is needed to determine if this condition is related to his military service.

The veteran's cause of death was listed as an acute myocardial infarct due to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, with hypertensive cardiovascular disease noted as a significant condition contributing to the death.,The veteran did not have service-connected disabilities that contributed to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease and bilateral peripheral neuropathy were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The veteran died in August 1999. The Board determined that the May 1992 rating decision denying service connection for hypertension was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and granted service connection for hypertension, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and coronary artery disease with status-post coronary artery bypass grafting effective September 26, 1991. The appellant was paid accrued benefits for the period from September 1, 1997, through August 1, 1999.

The veteran's tinnitus is likely attributable to service secondary to noise exposure, and the Board finds that the veteran has established service connection for this condition. The heart condition and depression are found to be less likely related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is at least as likely as not a cause or aggravator of his coronary artery disease (CAD), thus granting service connection for CAD secondary to service connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the veteran's claims of increased rating for chronic bronchial asthma and service connection for coronary artery disease.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for chest pain treatment were reimbursed as it was an emergent situation and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to arteriosclerotic heart disease, which is considered a direct result of his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left ankle sprain, and hypertension/heart disease (now claimed as a heart murmur). The claims for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and residuals of in-service left great toe injury have been granted.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for steroid-induced diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass graft as secondary to service-connected postoperative residuals of a discectomy at L4-5 with chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, based on a presumption of exposure to herbicides in service.