Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from myocardial infraction due to atherosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the conditions listed, including low back disability, left ankle sprain, eye disorder (other than conjunctivitis), bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, chronic lung disorder (PPD positive), gastrointestinal disorder (indigestion or gastritis), prostatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, bronchopneumonia, peptic ulcer disease, ischemic heart disease and hypertensive cardiovascular disease with angina, diabetes mellitus, acute pyelonephritis, liver condition, Bell's palsy with facial numbness, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and cardiovascular disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board determined that the veteran's service-connected depression did not contribute to his death due to coronary artery disease, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found no evidence of peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities related to service-connected diabetes mellitus and denied the claim. The issue of secondary service connection for coronary artery disease due to service-connected diabetes mellitus was not addressed.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his death, resulting in the grant of service connection for the cause of his death. The DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The appellant's claims for DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 and accrued benefits have also been denied.

The veteran died of cardiac arrest with underlying causes including coronary artery disease. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of death, arguing that her husband's PTSD aggravated his coronary artery disease.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition, both of which are found to be unrelated to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration under VA's radiation-exposed veteran procedures.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its secondary effects. The Board found that there was no evidence of a thoracolumbar spine disorder or ankylosing spondylitis during active service or within one year after discharge.

The Board found that the veteran's color blindness was not incurred or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a heart disorder, characterized as rheumatic heart disease with aortic insufficiency and murmur. The Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine if the current condition was aggravated by service.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain private and VA treatment records, as well as any other relevant evidence. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran is seeking service connection for coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, status post myocardial infarction and obstructed arterial disease of the lower extremities with claudication. The case has been remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of her service connection claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any hip, back, or chest pain disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment, and thus denied his claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to consider the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.310 (2007) and Allen v. Brown, 7 Vet. App. 439 (1995).

The veteran died from multi-organ failure due to old age. The service-connected disability (gunshot wound) did not cause his death, and there is no evidence linking any other condition to his death.