Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the onset of heart disease and its relationship to service. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for service-connected hypertension and coronary artery disease, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, status post acute sub-endocardial infarction is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the veteran's heart condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cardiovascular disease, characterized by coronary artery arteriosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease, is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The case is being remanded for additional development to determine if the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, which would allow him to be eligible for burial benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of chronic hypertension and coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure are not related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying service dates and obtaining medical records. The appellant's heart disability is being evaluated in light of her service history.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease and coronary artery disease, as well as his increased evaluations for allergic rhinitis and tonsillitis. The Board found that these conditions were not related to his service-connected disabilities or due to exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the VA medical care did not result in additional disability or death. The claim for DIC based on 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is also denied.

Service connection for coronary artery disease is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The veteran's PTSD remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease are not disabilities for which VA compensation benefits can be paid, as per VA policy. Therefore, the claim cannot be reopened.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for the veteran's claimed conditions, finding no competent medical evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses for coronary artery disease treatment is denied as VA did not provide prior authorization and the criteria for reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 were not met.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records from a VA facility in Little Rock, Arkansas, related to an ablation procedure performed on the veteran in April 2001. The issues of service connection for heart disease and arthritis of the knees are also being addressed.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and high cholesterol, finding that these conditions do not constitute disabilities for which VA compensation benefits are payable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran did not have heart disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension, or peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities during service. As these conditions were not shown to be related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim.