Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for heart disorder, bunions of the right foot, and skin disorder (including acne) are pending.

The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which is related to a March 1989 VA surgery. The Board finds that additional development is needed, including obtaining an opinion on whether the March 1989 surgery caused or aggravated the Veteran's coronary artery disease.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease with cardiac arrhythmias, status post myocardial infarction and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders and Meniere's disease. The new evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to military service.,Service connection is granted for a heart condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, and a disability manifested by shortness of breath, tingles all over, and bitemporal head pain. The Board found no current diagnosis other than anxiety neurosis that attributes these symptoms to any condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from cardiac arrhythmia, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease. The appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death are denied.

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his mental incapacity requiring assistance on a regular basis to protect him from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been granted, with the exception of peripheral neuropathy. The psychiatric disorder claim has been reopened due to new evidence relating it to a service-connected condition (diabetes mellitus). Service connection is also established for coronary artery disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus. Increased ratings are granted for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA compensation examination to determine the nature and etiology of his heart disease.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these disorders and active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records and examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current heart disorder, right shoulder injury and AC separation, left testicle epididymitis, residuals of fractured nose, or mole on the left arm. Additionally, the initial compensable evaluations for hallux valgus in both feet were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for payment of DIC benefits at the full-dollar rate before January 1, 2004 and for transfer of her claim file from Manila to Waco. The decision found that she was not entitled to these benefits based on her residency in the United States or because of her service as a New Philippine Scout.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death or to death pension. The causes of death listed on the Veteran's death certificate are unrelated to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including adjudicating the claim on a secondary basis due to the Veteran's testimony in February 2009.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, systolic and ventricular fibrillation, and acute myocardial infraction. The appellant argued that restrictive pulmonary disease contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected WPW syndrome contributed to his cause of death, which was due to coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination.