Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed arteriosclerotic heart disease and coronary artery disease did not have its onset in service or within one year thereafter, and are not etiologically linked to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also determined that the Veteran's PTSD and diabetes mellitus do not cause or aggravate his heart conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including scarlet fever residuals and heart disease, are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death (asystole due to congestive heart failure) did not develop during his active service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The Veteran had been service-connected for PTSD, but this condition was not considered the principal or contributory cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for CAD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence in favor of this claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause his death and played no substantial or material part in it, leading to a denial of the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records related to the Veteran's valvular heart disease and endocarditis. The Veteran is advised that failure to cooperate with the requested examination may result in an adverse determination.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be at least as likely as not caused by or a result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran does not have PTSD due to uncorroborated claimed stressors. Service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, secondary to DM, is granted since July 9, 2001.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee disability, ulcers, or PTSD due to personal assault. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are not manifested by persistent bleeding, anemia, fissures, nor are they large or thrombotic.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of residuals of a ruptured right eardrum, and thus denied the claim for service connection for this condition. The heart and right ankle disorders are remanded as additional development is necessary to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's current hypertension and hypertensive heart disease did not manifest during service, is not otherwise shown to be causally or etiologically related to service, and is not shown to have manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more within one year from the date of separation from service. The Board denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's current flushing syndrome and associated symptoms are secondary to his contamination during service with jet engine fuel.,Diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, osteopenia, and obstructive sleep apnea are all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected flushing syndrome.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for bipolar disorder, and that arteriosclerotic heart disease was not related to service-connected bipolar disorder. Service connection for fibromyalgia and degenerative arthritis was also denied as these conditions were not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his atherosclerotic heart disease was not related to service and did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on March 7, 2008 for emergency treatment of difficulty breathing and trouble swallowing are approved due to the severity of his service-connected heart disease and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart disability, claimed as recurrent paroxysmal tachycardia, which he believes is related to his service-connected hypothyroidism. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current heart disability.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic PTSD. The Veteran's appeal from the denial of service connection for depression is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his claims for service connection for coronary artery disease secondary to PTSD, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective from May 22, 2006. The Board found that the evidence did not show an earlier date when he became unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's lung disorder and heart disease to his military service, thus denying both claims.