Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The Board has granted a separate 60 percent evaluation for coronary artery disease secondary to hypertension, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and heart disability are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, osteoarthritis of the left ankle, heart disorder, cellulitis of the left foot, and anxiety reaction due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right recurrent pneumothorax did not cause or contribute to his death from cardiac arrhythmia due to occlusive coronary artery disease. The VA medical expert concluded that the veteran's lung condition was not severe enough to be a contributing factor in causing his death.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The preponderance of evidence indicated his death was due to other factors such as coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's noncardiac chest pain is not attributable to an undiagnosed illness and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault. Therefore, he is not entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hearing loss, heart disorder (including hypertension and coronary insufficiency), stomach disorder (including peptic ulcer disease and gastritis), and arthritis are all related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Diabetes Mellitus (Type II), Arteriosclerotic heart disease, and gangrene. The denial was based on a lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors related to PTSD, and the absence of direct or presumptive service connection for diabetes due to herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in service. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and his time in the military.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease with hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and cannot be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the former claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for service-connected rheumatic heart disease, finding that the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher rating.

The veteran's cardiac condition had stabilized by January 4, 2006. A VA facility was feasibly available to treat him after that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction are proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found no evidence of a heart condition or hypertension in service, and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery bypass graft, status post myocardial infarction due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his military service and these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current heart disease was not present in service or within one year of his discharge from service and is not related to a disease or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for heart disease was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, knee and hip conditions, a head condition, and a heart condition. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.