Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use an electric scooter, walker, or cane as a normal mode of locomotion.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, and hypercholesterolemia. The veteran's separation pay was recouped from his VA disability compensation due to the provisions of 10 U.S.C.A. § 1174.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for scheduling a personal hearing at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida due to the veteran's request.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, status post defibrillator implant, finding no new and material evidence. The appeal is dismissed.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the reopening of a heart disorder claim and the entitlement to service connection for frostbite of the feet. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease other than paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture, and therefore does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The VA determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is not related to his military service and specifically ruled out it being caused by or aggravated by his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that a cardiovascular examination is needed to address the direct and secondary service connection questions at hand, including whether the veteran's valvular heart disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart disorder, but the issue of service connection for aortic valve replacement as secondary to diabetes mellitus Type II remains pending and will be remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 30, 2004 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein, and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a dental condition as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus (DM). The remaining claims are remanded for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and CAD. The denial is based on a lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors related to PTSD, and the absence of in-service events that would support a finding of combat participation.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease, manifested by frequent episodes of dyspnea, angina, and fatigue indicative of congestive heart failure, warrants a 100 percent disability rating for the entire period covered by this appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular accident with peripheral vascular disease and bilateral below the knee amputations are secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disease, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board also determined that it is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

Prior to January 2, 2002, the veteran's rheumatic heart disease did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.,From January 2, 2002 to September 27, 2005, the veteran's rheumatic heart disease met the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation based on an ejection fraction between 30 and 50 percent.,As of September 28, 2005, the veteran's rheumatic heart disease warranted a 100 percent schedular evaluation due to METS of 3 or less resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope.