Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for heart condition, systemic nerve damage, stenosis of the lumbar canal with associated right sided sciatica and loss of use of legs with numbness, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, residuals of chronic prostatitis with retractable testicles, painful erection/ejaculation, and depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's heart disability and service. The veteran is required to undergo VA examination to obtain a medical opinion.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected coronary artery disease was denied as the condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the revised schedular criteria effective January 12, 1998.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, fibromyalgia, and residuals of left total hip replacement. The veteran's claim for hypertension was previously denied and is no longer on appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for rheumatic polyarthritis of the left knee and service connection for a heart condition, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident. The veteran was not exposed to herbicide agents during his active service, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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

The Board found no evidence of heart disease and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disorder, finding that new and material evidence supports these claims. The evidence indicates that the veteran's pre-existing heart condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Board and RO have denied reopening claims for service connection for visual problems, low back disability, heart disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and disability of the feet due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's current cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension and coronary artery disease, are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, arthritis, and an increased evaluation for ischemic heart disease. The claim of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis was not reopened.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and heart disorder were not incurred in or related to his military service, nor could they be presumed to have been caused by any incident of service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board determined that the veteran lacks mental capacity to handle his VA funds, including disbursement of funds without limitation. The decision is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed coronary artery disease and liver disorder did not begin during or as a result of his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran received treatment for a myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease at CMH from January 31, 2006 to February 2, 2006. The treatment was deemed necessary due to the continued medical emergency of his condition, which could not be safely discharged or transferred to a VA facility prior to discharge on February 2, 2006. Payment/reimbursement for this care is granted.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease, postoperative with hypercholesterolemia, was granted effective March 22, 2007. He is now rated at 100 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an abscess, claimed as an infection; hole in the stomach as a result of treatment received from a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center/facility (VAMC). Service connection was also denied for a heart disability.,The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current low back and heart disabilities to service. The examiner noted that the veteran's current low back pain began approximately eight or nine years ago following a work-related injury, while his heart disability had no clear link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by service-connected heart disease and stroke, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.