Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's coronary artery disease did not have its onset during service or due to his service-connected hypertension, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and denied the claim.

The Board has found that service connection is not warranted for tinnitus and denied the claim for a heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed conditions, including as secondary to herbicide exposure, are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or presumed Agent Orange exposure and his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, except for the reopening of a claim for low back disability and granting secondary service connection for right arm disability. Other claims were not supported by evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records from Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending and will be reconsidered after obtaining these records.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease, also claimed as syncope reaction. The evidence submitted was found not new and material.

The Veteran's death was caused by occlusive coronary artery disease due to (or as a consequence of) coronary arteriosclerosis, with hypertension being a significant condition contributing to the cause. The VA examiner opined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hypertension increased while in service and contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include sclerotic changes of the L5 vertebra of unknown etiology. The Board also granted service connection for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to issues related to service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss and heart disability. The case will be scheduled for a video conference Board hearing.

The Veteran's death was caused by arteriosclerotic heart disease, which is service-connected PTSD.,As the appellant's claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is moot due to the grant of service connection for the cause of death, her claim remains dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart condition, acquired mental disorders, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection for his bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing such disability within one year after discharge from service. Service connection was also denied for hypertension as new and material evidence had not been received sufficient to reopen the claim, and diabetes was not related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran is not entitled to specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant because his lower extremity disability is due to nonservice-connected conditions and he does not meet the criteria for loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to a fire at NPRC that destroyed service treatment records. The Veteran is advised of alternative sources of evidence and must respond before the case can be returned to the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for DIC benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for a pulmonary condition, claimed as asbestosis. The Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos is conceded, and there is no credible evidence of post-service asbestos exposure. Two private doctors have diagnosed an asbestos-related lung disease, and the preponderance of the evidence supports the Veteran's claim.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), diabetic retinopathy, a kidney condition, and diabetic ulcers, all conditions to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and hypertension have been denied as new and material evidence has not been presented to warrant reopening the claim.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service, which would allow for presumptive service connection.