Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral pes planus, leg disorder, and coronary artery disease as there was no evidence to show that these conditions were caused by or worsened during active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and cardiovascular disability were not related to his service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during or shortly after service.

The Veteran's congenital heart disease (atrial septal defect) clearly and unmistakably preexisted the Veteran's period of active service and was not aggravated by active service.

The appeal on the merits has become moot by virtue of the death of the Veteran and must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The appeal is remanded to afford the Veteran an opportunity to undergo a contemporaneous VA examination to assess the current nature, extent and severity of his coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death, or any connection to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including PTSD, pancreatitis, a respiratory disorder, a heart disorder, residuals, status post-cystourethroscopy, and hypertension. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The veteran's left knee condition was rated at 20 percent effective June 28, 2006. The claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left legs, CAD, and impotency were denied.

The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion that reviews all evidence, including recently added records, regarding the Veteran's heart disease and its relation to service and whether it contributed to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death as there was no evidence linking his death to any incident during active military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for aortic valve insufficiency, coronary artery disease, chronic ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarctions as they are not related to his active service or secondary to his service-connected rheumatic fever.

The claim for service connection for a heart disorder, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness (Gulf War syndrome), was not reopened because new and material evidence was not received.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for deformed duodenal bulb and service connection for coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The veteran did not submit a timely substantive appeal with regard to the September 2002 and October 2002 rating decisions, which denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, service connection for a heart disorder, service connection for hearing loss, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension was granted, while claims for asthma and meralgia paresthetica were denied.

The claim for service connection for a heart disability was reopened, but ultimately denied as the evidence did not establish that the Veteran's pre-existing heart condition was permanently aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from June 3, 2004 to February 5, 2007 and increased to 50 percent thereafter due to worsening symptoms.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for heart disability (claimed as a residual of rheumatic fever) for further development and readjudication.