Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The VA determined that the veteran's valvular heart disease did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to November 8, 2005.

The veteran's claim for service connection of his heart condition is being remanded due to unattainable service medical records and the need to obtain additional private treatment records.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service treatment records and to determine if there are any line of duty determinations or active duty for training/inactive duty for training records from his reserve service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disability, finding that the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. The Board also denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for coronary artery disease, concluding that there was no additional disability resulting from VA medical treatment on March 18, 2002.,The decision found that the veteran's current back conditions are due to wear and tear over the years following service.

The Board found that the causes of death (myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and Lyme disease) were not incurred or aggravated by service. The appellant's husband was not a veteran for VA purposes due to his reserve status. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board denied service connection for cause of the veteran's death, finding no evidence linking his death to service.,Accrued benefits were not warranted as the appellant did not file her claim within one year of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's current hypertension and coronary artery disease are not related to service or his service-connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The claims were denied as secondary service connection is not warranted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, as new and material evidence has been received. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for diabetes mellitus, vision disorder, respiratory disorder, or heart disorder on either a direct or presumptive basis. The claims were therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify whether the veteran's heart condition was aggravated by service and if it is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's renal insufficiency with hypertension and heart disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, CAD, and COPD. The decision found that current hearing loss did not have its onset in service or within one year after separation from active duty. For CAD and COPD, the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred during service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board determined that there was no evidence to support a finding that the veteran's death was caused by a service-connected condition or an exposure related to military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in service. The most probative medical evidence of record does not show a relationship between his current condition and his service-connected anxiety reaction.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertensive heart disease are not service-connected as claimed. The claims were denied due to a lack of evidence showing in-service onset or connection to service.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing regional ileitis with bowel resection did not worsen during service, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, prostate disability, and heart disability due to exposure to herbicide agents. The prostate disability was not found to be related to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the veteran's attempt to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a heart condition, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment, and therefore DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.