Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the veteran's coronary artery disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and denied the claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip arthritis, nerve damage/carpal tunnel syndrome, and an initial compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction were denied.

The veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) was not found to be more severe than the currently assigned 60 percent rating, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a heart condition, and the appeal was dismissed.

The appeal for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is being remanded to provide additional VCAA notice and a medical opinion.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating or establish a link between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right hip, left knee, and coronary artery disease as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's period of active military service.

The Board denied service connection for all the claimed conditions as they were not shown to be related to the veteran's period of active duty.

The Board denied the appeal to reverse the November 2006 severance of service connection and termination of DIC and Chapter 35 benefits, as well as denying service connection for the cause of the veteran's death based on respiratory disease.

The veteran's non-service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on a need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The veteran is not shown to have any current heart disease or cardiac pathology, and therefore service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The Board remands the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's heart disease and hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for heart disease, to include tachycardia, was denied because the evidence received since the July 2002 rating decision did not show that the veteran's current heart disease is related to his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder.

The claim for new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease with coronary insufficiency as secondary to service-connected rheumatic heart disease was granted, but the veteran's disability manifested by arteriosclerotic heart disease with coronary insufficiency is not shown to have been caused or aggravated by the service-connected rheumatic heart disease.

The Board denied the claim for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for death due to treatment at a VA facility, as there was no evidence that the veteran's service-connected hepatitis C caused his death.

The Board denied service connection for excessive chest pain, to include pulmonary microlithiasis and a heart disability as there was no evidence of a current heart disability or etiological relationship between the claimed conditions and active service.

The veteran was transferred to University Community Hospital for emergency medical procedures due to the unavailability of ICU beds at the Tampa VA Medical Center, and payment for these services is granted.

The Board REMANDS the claims to the RO for further development and readjudication.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, each as aggravated by the veteran's service-connected major depression.