Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current heart disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has ordered the RO to search for and obtain medical records from the veteran's treatment at Samson Naval Hospital and Leavenworth VAMC, as well as provide due process notice regarding previously service-connected conditions. The case is then remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current heart condition, including atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis, was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As such, secondary service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and for accrued benefits related to hearing loss and TDIU, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of death. The appellant's claims for accrued benefits were also denied due to a failure to file within one year of her husband's death.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are not attributable to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection and increased ratings for various knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as coronary artery disease.

The veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the Board finds that the appellant does not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for hypertension and heart disease due to additional development needed, including a VA examination.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for the veteran's service-connected heart disorder prior to August 17, 1999.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety state contributed to his fatal heart disease, which was a contributing factor in his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, migraine headaches, coronary artery disease status post CABG, and bilateral tendonitis of the feet.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in service or within one year of separation, is not causally related to service or his service-connected diabetes, and was not aggravated by the service-connected diabetes. Therefore, service connection for coronary artery disease is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's GERD, heart disease, and hypertension are not secondary to his service-connected PTSD or diabetes.,There is no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease with bypass graft, and hypertension associated with diabetes were denied as the evidence did not support ratings higher than the current 20%, 60%, and 10% evaluations respectively.

The Board has withdrawn the veteran's claims for service connection for brain disease, neck pain, back pain, and depression. The claim for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between such condition and service. The previously denied claim for an eye disorder with defective or blurred vision was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and right shoulder bursitis with mild degenerative changes were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and a heart disorder, including HTN. The evidence did not show that the current conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's heart disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.