Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to missing service medical records, new evidence added since the last decision, and a revised description of PTSD stressor.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective June 10, 2003. Service connection for CAD and COPD with asthma and bronchitis was denied.

The veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The veteran's death was caused by his service-connected PTSD, which led to alcohol abuse that contributed to the cause of death. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine if service connection can be established for skin disability, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertensive atherosclerotic heart disease may be presumed due to his POW status, and this disability contributed to his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for a VA examination regarding the veteran's cardiovascular disability and eye injuries.

The veteran's current heart condition was not present until many years after service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease, which developed during active duty, is service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for PTSD, headaches secondary to PTSD, heart condition secondary to PTSD, and hypertension secondary to PTSD must be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the occurrence of in-service stressors. The VA will attempt to verify the veteran's reported stressors and provide him with a new examination if at least one stressor is confirmed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further medical clarification regarding whether the veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease had its onset in service.

The veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease with a history of thrombosis and bypass grafting was not incurred in service.,The veteran's kidney disorder has not been shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for left hip condition, heart condition and hypertension, and left knee condition have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disability is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart condition, variously claimed or diagnosed as CAD, myocardial infarction, CHF, atrial fibrillation, hypokinesis, and unstable angina, is not related to his military service. The preponderance of evidence shows no link between any current heart condition and his period of active duty.

The Board denied service connection for organic heart disease and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and neuropathy secondary to Type II diabetes mellitus. The decision found that there was no evidence of diabetes during service or within one year after retirement, thus denying direct service connection.

The veteran's heart disease is not deemed to be caused by VA medical care in March 1999, and the Board finds that there was no negligence or fault on the part of VA.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension are not related to his service-connected kidney stones, and thus denied both claims for secondary service connection.