Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) on account of being in need of the aid and attendance of another person was denied as he is not service-connected for any disability, and his nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as the appellant did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam during active military duty. The claims were also denied on a secondary basis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on secondary basis to his service-connected hypertension has been dismissed due to the Veteran requesting to withdraw his appeal regarding alcoholism.

The Veteran's heart condition is not service-connected, but her lower body numbness and pain are presumed to be due to Gulf War service. The post-viral asthenia with Epstein Barr virus history is rated as analogous to chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, as secondary to service-connected rheumatic fever, is moot.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of death, including DIC benefits. The Veteran's death was attributed to cardiac arrest due to coronary artery disease with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a contributing factor. The additional evidence submitted does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and issues, including lower back disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease, heart condition, hypertension, closed head injury residuals, hepatitis, syncope (fainting), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and heart disorder preexisted military service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service. The claims for service connection were therefore denied.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and the claim for service connection on this basis is granted.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on extraschedular criteria for the period from July 27, 2003 to October 10, 2004 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 60 percent for arteriosclerotic heart disease effective July 15, 2002. The Veteran previously had a 30 percent rating from May 8, 2001 until July 14, 2002.

The Veteran's multiple joint arthritis, excluding a back disorder, hearing loss, eye disorder, heart disorder (including hypertension), and testicular disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease with postoperative status two vessel coronary artery bypass graft (coronary artery disability), partial lung removal, transmetatarsal amputation of the left foot, hypertension, and eye disease as there is no evidence that these conditions had onset during active service or are otherwise etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance, but do not meet the criteria for housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, heart disease, sleep disorder, and neuropathy of the hands were denied. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD).

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, which is aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected anxiety psychoneurosis. The Veteran's current heart disorder is secondary to his service-connected anxiety psychoneurosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not currently have PTSD and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, including depression. The VA examinations and clinical records do not support service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for a heart condition and hypertension, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, heart disease (including cardiomyopathy), and back disability. The Board found no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology after discharge to support these claims.