Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for hypertension and coronary artery disease as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service, and the Veteran's in-service blood pressure reading was normal.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for diabetes mellitus is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran was paid the correct initial amount for a spouse in need of aid and attendance, therefore, the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and a VA opinion regarding his stability for transfer to a VA facility.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) as aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board also found that residuals of a left radial artery graft are secondary to CAD and granted service connection for these residuals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, D.C. for further development and adjudication.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, heart condition (atypical chest pains), and right hip disability. The Veteran did not have a diagnosed or current condition that could be linked to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), and erectile dysfunction is granted due to his exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam. The Board finds that the Veteran set foot on land in Vietnam and thus is entitled to presumptive service connection.

The Board found that the RO properly calculated the combined schedular evaluation for the service-connected disabilities and denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a higher combined evaluation.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, none of which are service-connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection for the cause of death and non-service connected death pension benefits due to lack of qualifying service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal due to his death while the case was pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a heart disorder and did not reopen his previously denied claim. The issue of TDIU was deferred due to lack of recent medical evidence.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially or materially contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 have also not been met.

The Veteran's back disorder, heart disorder (to include hypertension), and tuberculosis were not incurred or aggravated by military service. The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting conditions existed prior to his entry into service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death, atherosclerotic heart disease, was not related to his active military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, a cardiovascular disorder, and a psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. K. Saleh and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected amputation caused or permanently aggravated his cardiovascular disorders.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for his heart disorder, concluding that it did not onset during service and is unrelated to any event or incident of his period of active duty.