Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2008

The Board found that heart disease was not incurred in or aggravated during service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and is not proximately due to, or chronically aggravated by, his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issues of PTSD and psychiatric disability other than PTSD have been remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, or peripheral neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam does not apply as there is no credible evidence showing he served in Vietnam during the Vietnam era.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disorder and asthma were not incurred or aggravated by his active service, nor could they be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for a compensable rating for asthma due to PTSD was also denied.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal for the claims of service connection for spondylitic protrusion and desiccation of the lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, arthritis, atherosclerotic heart disease, and asthma.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disease and hypertension, but the issue of an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The veteran's service-connected CVA and coronary artery disease have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted at the higher rate.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death (coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive lung disease) were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death was denied.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection of atherosclerotic heart disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatic fever, heart disability, arthritis of the lumbar spine, peptic ulcer disease, adenocarcinoma of the stomach, hypertension, rhinitis, and sinusitis with headaches. The veteran did not have a diagnosis of rheumatic fever during or after his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The medical evidence does not show that CAD was caused or aggravated by diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart condition is etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for a heart condition as secondary to PTSD.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease was remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and further development of the evidence.

The Board dismissed the veteran's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in their August 2001 decision, finding that the motion did not meet the required pleading standards.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes warranted a 20 percent rating, CAD warranted a 30 percent rating, and hypertension did not warrant any compensable rating. The initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left hand and erectile dysfunction were also granted.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient medical evidence to establish whether the veteran's coronary artery disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disabilities, including hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a connection to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining additional medical records and attempting to corroborate his claimed stressors. The case is being remanded to the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and dismissed the appeals regarding the evaluation of diabetes mellitus and denial of service connection for a bilateral eye condition.