Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia were evaluated, with the hypertension receiving a 10% rating prior to January 12, 1998, and the PAT receiving a 10% rating effective April 7, 1997.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension with coronary artery disease is not related to his military service and cannot be presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors. The Board also found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's service-connected conversion reaction with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and his current cardiovascular conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development and examination regarding his claimed right kidney and heart disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board found that the submitted evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim of service connection for arthritis, to include as secondary to rheumatic heart disease. The claim was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his Type II diabetes mellitus, which was presumed due to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam, contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (acute myocardial infarction due to coronary artery disease with contributing diabetes mellitus) was not related to his service. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied as there were no qualifying total disability ratings.

The Board has found that the Veteran's CAD is secondary to stress associated with his service-connected psychiatric disorder and complications from in-service hernia surgery, and therefore grants service connection for CAD.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. Service connection is denied for hypercholesterolemia.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability did not have onset during service, was not caused or aggravated by service-connected PTSD, and was not otherwise caused by his active service. Therefore, service connection for a heart disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability, to include hypertensive heart disease and hypertension, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine were incurred during his active service. Therefore, these conditions are granted as service connected.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues except the ones related to Agent Orange exposure. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these remaining issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand tremors, a heart disability, a low back disability, a foot disability, and a psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms after discharge.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for coronary artery disease. However, the Veteran's current diagnosis of coronary artery disease is not shown to be related to his active military service or any incident therein.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, finding that the earliest document in the claims file supporting this claim was filed on January 23, 1996. The Veteran's heart condition was already service-connected prior to his inservice catheterization.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's heart disability was not shown to be incurred during service or due to his service-connected PTSD, while the PTSD did result in occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and hypertensive heart disease to allow for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.