Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus was granted, and the effective date for service connection for his complications due to type II diabetes mellitus was set at September 10, 2003. The TDIU award was also granted with a retroactive effective date of September 10, 2003.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, blocked nose, skin condition, spinal cord or low back injury, respiratory disorder (claimed due to asbestos exposure), and other conditions. The evidence does not support a finding of service origin for these conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions unrelated to his service, and thus he cannot be granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of coronary artery disease is related to his service, specifically during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) from July 6-7, 1996. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral wrist and hand disability, an eating disorder, a low back disability, and a heart disability have been denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is pending.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to dependents' educational benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code. The Board found that rheumatic fever was not diagnosed during the Veteran's active duty service, and there was no evidence linking any current heart conditions to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, and finds that his current conditions are related to his active service. The claims of secondary service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and impotency will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death, concluding that there was no evidence showing that the Veteran had COPD or renal disease during service and that his service-connected right knee disability did not contribute to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of reopening his heart disorder service connection, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted. The evidence did not establish a nexus between any current heart condition and active military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. The VHA consultant opined that rheumatic heart disease, one of the underlying causes of death, likely had its onset in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic respiratory disorders (including pneumonia and/or asbestosis) and coronary artery disease, including the residuals of coronary artery bypass grafting. However, the evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability. However, he had been rated as 100% disabled for over ten years prior to his death and thus qualifies for DIC benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the currently demonstrated coronary artery disease and ischemic cardiomyopathy are proximately due to or the result of service-connected disability manifested by the absence of the right lung, thus granting secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an additional medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's coronary artery disease is aggravated by his service-connected lung cancer or treatment for lung cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, COPD, atherosclerotic heart disease, and recurrent aspirational pneumonia were found to be causative of his death. The appeal for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for the cause of death.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional VA treatment records and to consider whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher evaluations were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive examination and opinion.

The VA determined that the Veteran's claimed coronary artery disease was not incurred or aggravated during active duty service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease associated with arterial hypertension is currently rated at 60 percent disabling since November 13, 2008. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.