Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rectal cancer and coronary artery disease (CAD) were denied. The lung disability was granted with a retroactive rating of 30 percent effective from August 31, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of death and basic eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35. The immediate causes of the Veteran's death were coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis, with significant contributing conditions including diabetes mellitus and COPD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate disorder, skin disorder, heart disorder, and kidney disorder. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart disability, including coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate his claim.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a heart condition and hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD. However, the evidence does not conclusively establish that the Veteran's PTSD caused or aggravated his heart condition and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected rheumatic heart disease is denied as there are no current residuals. His hypertension claim was previously denied and new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The diabetes mellitus claim on herbicide exposure basis is also denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for a heart disorder and an increased rating for PTSD before the Board could issue a decision.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during active duty training (ACDUTRA) or related to any other period of service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, status post myocardial infarctions and coronary artery bypass grafting, to include as secondary to PTSD. The case must be remanded due to the need for proper notice of VA's duties to notify and assist, obtaining additional medical records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and secondary service connection for heart disease due to major depression. The effective date for the grant of service connection for major depression was set at April 22, 2003.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease resulted in an MI in December 2003, but has not led to additional complications. The depressive disorder is service-connected due to its relationship to his service-connected conditions. New evidence has reopened the claim for hepatitis C, which was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected condition rated totally disabling for at least 8 years prior, thus denying enhanced DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2).

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) records and other pertinent medical records. The claims will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disability, and lung disability. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a current lung disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a previously scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be handled by scheduling another hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and denied the claim for service connection. The Board also noted that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his current heart disability.

The Veteran died from cardiorespiratory arrest and arteriosclerotic heart disease. There is no service-connected condition, nor any pending claims for VA benefits at the time of his death. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's military service and his fatal conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and heart disease, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.