Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The veteran's death was not due to or the result of any event, injury, or disease of service origin. The Board finds that there is no medical evidence linking his death from heart and lung diseases to his military service. Therefore, burial benefits cannot be granted as a result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus is a disorder of service origin and grants service connection for it. The secondary service connection claim for CAD remains pending as there are conflicting opinions on whether the veteran's CAD is related to his diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claim of service connection for coronary artery disease secondary to diabetes mellitus will be reconsidered.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the examination reports and need for further development of his PTSD claim. The claims for psoriasis, PTSD, arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension, and a compensable rating for residuals of a pilonidal cyst will be deferred pending resolution of the PTSD claim.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses from a private hospital is denied as he did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is warranted due to hypertension, which was present and disabling within one year of service. The medical evidence supports this finding.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine whether the veteran's right shoulder disability, heart disorder, and respiratory disorder are related to service.

The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims for hiatal hernia and heart condition, which were previously denied in February 2002. The reasons given were that the evidence did not relate to onset during service or within one year of separation from service, nor did it establish a relationship between PTSD and these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including asthma, prostate disability, impotence, diabetes mellitus, and heart disability. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, including as secondary to PTSD, finding no evidence of a nexus between his heart condition and military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a heart condition and hypertension, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for a heart condition. The Board also found that there is no direct evidence linking the current hypertension to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection were denied as he did not meet the statutory eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to lack of wartime service.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding that the new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, right leg disability, back disability, coronary artery disease, upper respiratory disorder, and hypertension were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertensive heart disease with hypertension. The veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine whether he has any hypertensive heart disease or hypertension related to service, including complaints of shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, and low blood pressure.

The veteran did not have any service-connected disabilities, and his death was not due to a service-connected condition. Therefore, the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his military service, and the evidence does not support reopening of any previously denied claim.