Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, was not proximately due to VA carelessness or negligence and is not a result of an event not reasonably foreseeable. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied all of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disease with hypertension, to include as secondary to Still's Disease. The remaining issues of service connection for rheumatic fever and its residuals, and a skin disorder are addressed below.

The Veteran's heart condition and diabetes mellitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's angina pectoris is not related to service and cannot be presumed as such. The Veteran's current angina is not shown to be manifested by permanent atrial fibrillation, or one to four episodes per year of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia, as documented by ECG or Holter monitor.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's alleged stressor was verified and his current symptoms are related to a verified in-service stressor. Service connection for a heart condition is denied.

The Board found no evidence to support the appellant's claims of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as there was insufficient credible evidence linking any current disability to military service or contributing to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The claims will be readjudicated after these opinions are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, heart disability, and bilateral knee disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary, with coronary artery disease as a significant condition. The appellant contends that the cause of death may be related to service-connected prostate cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The Board has ordered additional development including obtaining service personnel records and medical records from private physicians.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition, an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected pes planus, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and neuropathy of the left foot. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, right foot drop, right and left knee disorders, and right and left hip disorders were denied as these conditions did not develop during active service or are otherwise not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, chronic nephritis, endocarditis, brain thrombosis, and cardiovascular disease were all denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor can they be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board finds that the reduction in rating for hypertension from 60% to 10% was proper. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity neuropathy, a heart disorder, and retinal detachment. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining SSA and Michigan State Disability Assistance records. The notice provided to the Veteran must include information on what evidence would be necessary to satisfy the elements of the underlying claims found insufficient in previous denials.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have legal entitlement to dependency and indemnity compensation, death pension, or accrued benefits due to a forfeiture decision against the Veteran.