Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and heart disorder (claimed as irregular heartbeat) have all been denied due to lack of evidence supporting the presence or causation of these conditions during service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease in multiple sites and arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease secondary to rheumatic fever, both filed on an accrued benefits basis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred from December 4, 2003 to December 7, 2003 at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs is denied as he did not receive care or services from the VA health care system within the 24 months preceding his treatment.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between the veteran's current cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, and his service. The case will be returned for further action.

The veteran's CAD is due, at least in part, to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the evidence supports granting service connection for CAD as secondary to service-connected diabetes.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing.

The veteran died from ASHD, which was not service-connected. The claim for PTSD was pending at the time of death but denied due to lack of diagnosis before death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, and status post coronary artery bypass is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA health care, and denied his claim for dependency and indemnity compensation under section 1151 of the U.S. Code.

The veteran seeks service connection for cardiovascular disability, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, to include as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has ordered a new VA medical examination or opinion to determine if the veteran's current cardiovascular disability is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of medical records.

The veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and vision problems are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining SSA records and opinions regarding whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a right hand disorder, and has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in an October 1946 rating decision which denied him service connection for a disorder of the right fingers. The claim for coronary artery disease with arteriosclerotic heart disease status post coronary artery bypass graft is addressed in the Remand portion of this decision.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, lung disability, right ankle disability, skin disability, nerve damage, and heart disability are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies. The RO will provide proper VCAA notice and consider the additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hypertensive heart disease and polyarthritis. The veteran's claims were subsequently denied by the RO, with no appeal submitted within one year of the denial.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and a prostate disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of increased rating for generalized anxiety with depression, service connection for heart disability, and residuals, bilateral frozen ears. The claim to reopen a previous denial regarding residuals, bilateral frozen feet was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and effective dates of June 19, 2006 were assigned. The appeals for earlier effective dates are denied.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from November 10, 2005 to November 18, 2005 were denied as the VA determined that he was stable for transfer to a VA facility by November 9, 2005.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for hypertensive heart disease, previously rated as hypertension, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review.