Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his previous denial. The Veteran's hearing loss was found not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issue of increased evaluation for service-connected otitis media with bilateral hearing loss. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a 100% schedular evaluation for rheumatic heart disease, status post aortic valve replacement. Service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board denied service connection for status post right total hip arthroplasty and coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of hypertensive heart disease or congestive heart failure, and the Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his left hip pain associated with rheumatic fever, have been denied. His service-connected rheumatic heart disease remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Board found that the cause of death, dementia, was not caused or contributed substantially to by any service-connected disability. The service-connected conditions (coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and ischemic cardiomyopathy) were not shown to be related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, secondary to service-connected high blood pressure, was denied as there is no evidence of a current heart condition related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder and erectile dysfunction are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of current disabilities related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and heart disorder have been denied. The decision also notes that the Veteran's hearing loss is not compensable, and his right knee and hip disorders are rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin disorder, heart disorder, sinus disorder, and hypertension are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and CABG are still pending, as well as the issue regarding an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the cause of the Veteran's death, including reviewing medical records from Compass Hospital of San Antonio and obtaining a new opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin tags and herpes zoster lesions (claimed as a skin disorder) was withdrawn. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have current peripheral neuropathy, and thus cannot establish service connection on a secondary basis to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if his coronary artery disease is related to his military service and in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral tinea pedis and onychomycosis, ulcers, heart disorder with hypertension, GERD, prostate disorder, erectile dysfunction, diverticulitis, skin disorder of the hands and feet, and pre-cancer skin condition are all related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a videoconference hearing at the North Little Rock Regional Office due to his heart condition and financial situation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus has aggravated his non-service connected coronary artery disease, leading to a myocardial infarction. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection is granted.