Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is being remanded for further examination and consideration, as it may be related to his service-connected PTSD. The back condition claim is also being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for all issues except gout, which received a 20% disability rating. The remaining conditions were either not granted or had their ratings denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The heart disorder was not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition, while the low back disability received an initial rating of 10 percent prior to October 12, 2007, and then 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's condition was related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and heart disability are not caused or made worse by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the presence and etiology of any lung disability and heart disability. The claims will be re-adjudicated after this development.

The Board found no evidence of a heart disorder related to service or any incident therein, nor is it related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's current heart disorder and aortaloic calcification are considered separate issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease were partially granted. Service connection was established for PTSD with a rating of 30 percent effective from October 11, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to January 14, 2005.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a heart disability and found that new evidence submitted by the Veteran is sufficient to reopen the claim. The current medical evidence indicates that the Veteran currently suffers from heart disease, but there is no direct evidence linking this condition to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, claimed as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravates his heart disease, and a definitive medical opinion is needed on this question.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease, gallstones, pancreatitis, cholecystectomy, diabetes mellitus, scars, and gastroesophageal reflux disease is granted. The issue of service connection for hemorrhoids has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and Hypertension are presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board granted the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arteriosclerotic heart disease with myocardial infarction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, insomnia, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, headaches, shortness of breath or respiratory disease, circulatory insufficiency of the legs and feet (peripheral vascular disease), bilateral ankle edema, blurry vision, and gout were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that they were not related to his military service and did not arise from herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his death was not caused by a service-connected disability and that no service-connected disability contributed to or hastened his death.