Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disorder and heart disability were not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to chemicals. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death. The Board found no causal link between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and the arteriosclerotic heart disease that caused his death, nor was there evidence of continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities. The appeals were based on secondary service connection to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's heart condition is currently diagnosed, but the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if it is related to service-connected rheumatic fever.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a heart condition or hypertension, and there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for either condition. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found no evidence of congestive heart failure or a workload of less than 3 METs, and the Veteran's ejection fractions were more than 30 percent. Therefore, the claim for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder shrapnel wound caused or contributed to his death from lung cancer, arteriosclerotic heart disease and Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for rheumatic heart disease was denied, and his claim for a cognitive disorder residual of cerebrovascular accident was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, finding that his current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), an acute skin rash, a perianal abscess, arthritis and swelling of the lower extremities, and arthritis of the back. The appeals were remanded due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions being related to active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current atrial fibrillation or heart condition and his service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease do not warrant increased ratings beyond their current assigned levels.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as ischemic cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and chronic renal insufficiency. The Board finds that the Veteran's COPD, which he developed due to exposure to welding fumes in service, contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to allow consideration of both service connection for the cause of death and a claim based on VA hospital treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with the overall cause of death issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his claimed period of service and obtain his service medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral trench foot and heart disease, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for trench foot and concluding that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between current heart disease and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional service records, particularly from his period of Naval Reserve service. The Board will attempt to obtain these records and take any further appropriate actions before returning the case.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected PTSD. The disability did not cause the immediate or underlying cause of death, nor was it etiologically related.