Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperthyroidism, heart disease, gouty arthritis, and kidney disability were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's attempts to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for heart, cervical spine, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his VA Vocational Rehabilitation file and any outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine if he is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, which he claims developed during his military service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes and its complications are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral inguinal hernia is not manifested by any current residuals, and his heart disability does not warrant a higher rating. The TDIU claim must be remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits information. A VA examination will be conducted to assess the current severity of PTSD. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are also inextricably intertwined with TDIU and must be addressed together.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for heart disease has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a valid claim for service connection for congestive heart disease and has denied it. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, leaving only the denial of this issue as the final decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the right knee and lumbar spine, residuals of a left ankle sprain, arthritis of the right shoulder, body cramps, hepatitis C, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The appeals were dismissed due to lack of evidence or insufficient material.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his coronary artery disease and service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and peripheral vascular disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed heart disorder and psychiatric disorders.

The Board has increased the Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease from 30 percent to 60 percent effective February 18, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen any of these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a heart disability and back disability. The appeals were all denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including myocardial infarction with hypertensive heart disease, chronic nephritis, calcification of the aorta, and chronic bronchitis with emphysema, are found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran seeks reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Wilson Memorial Hospital due to a heart attack. The VA Medical Center in Canandaigua is required to obtain additional records and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit any missing evidence before making a decision.