Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his coronary artery disease, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's rheumatic heart disease, as evidenced by cardiac hypertrophy or dilation on electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or x-ray, meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arteriosclerotic heart disease, and a psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder), finding no evidence of such conditions during or related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine if his heart disease is etiologically related to his PTSD. Additionally, he was provided with an examination by a psychiatrist or psychologist to assess the current degree of severity of his service-connected PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits, finding that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The heart disability and vascular heart disease are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate her claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension, chest pain, or heart condition related to his military service or service-connected sarcoidosis. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability as secondary to his service-connected asbestosis with COPD and fibrotic lung disease due to prior asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for service connection for a disability due to chemical fume exposure. The remaining issues, including hypertension and coronary artery disease, will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran experienced multiple complications following his VA surgery, including infections and other health issues. However, the evidence does not support a finding that these complications were caused by carelessness or negligence on VA's part.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and heart disease were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to service. Heart disease was not proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the service member's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA medical care, and the proximate cause of his death was an event not reasonably foreseeable. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are denied.

The Board found no current diagnosis of a heart disorder and denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, including depression and panic disorder. The Board also denied service connection for alcoholism as not related to military service.

The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's current heart disorder and his service-connected PTSD, thus denying the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is not etiologically related to his active military service or within a year following separation, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the reduction in the Veteran's disability rating for service-connected coronary artery disease, with hypertension, from 100% to 60% was proper based on improvement shown in his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional private treatment records from Dr. V.S.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, as there is no current diagnosed disability related to his in-service symptoms.