Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition with chest pain as there is no competent medical evidence showing that he has a current clinical diagnosis related to his chest pain. The Veteran's chest pain did not manifest during his Southwest Asia tour and appears to be noncardiac in nature.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, hypertension, and a heart disability were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and the evidence does not support a finding that they are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his PTSD contributed to his coronary artery disease and ultimately caused his death. The claim for burial benefits is remanded due to a lack of a timely statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD was a contributory cause of his death from abdominal aortic aneurysm, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. As such, the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as his accounts of events during service and onset of disabilities are not credible, and there is no evidence to support a finding of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease was denied as there is no evidence of a heart disability during his period of active duty and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any current condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a helpless child of his father due to lack of evidence showing he was permanently incapable of self-support at age 18.

The Board found no evidence of a cardiac disorder during service and denied the claim for service connection, concluding that any current cardiac disability is not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions of coronary artery disease and hypertension were not incurred during service or due to a service-connected disability, including diabetes mellitus type II. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery calcifications and assigned a 10 percent disability rating for hypothyroidism. The Veteran's coronary artery calcifications are attributable to service, while his hypothyroidism is currently manifested by continuous medication required for control.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus has aggravated his coronary artery disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction disorders.

The Board found that the evidence received since July 2000 is not new and material, and does not serve to reopen the claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, to include as secondary to service-connected varicose veins. The Veteran's current claim involves entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, which was previously denied in September 1991, October 1994, and July 2000.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is also not related to his service and a new VA examination is needed as evidence of worsening since the last evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart disease as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart disease is not related to his service-connected rheumatic fever, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart problems, coronary artery disease, multiple skin abnormalities (including solar spots, dermatofibroma, and possible benign nevi), and bilateral cataracts due to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence does not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by faulty VA treatment, and the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking his conditions to active service or any exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board found that the cause of death was natural causes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the etiology of his current coronary artery disease and digestive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder was not incurred in or aggravated during active service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred and is not proximately due to or the result of a service connected disease or injury.