Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA medical care, and thus DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are denied. The appellant did not have a pending claim for accrued benefits at the time of her husband's death, so she is not entitled to such benefits.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance or as a result of being housebound due to her various disabilities, which do not meet the criteria set forth in VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, polyneuropathy, coronary artery disease including carotid stenosis, and stroke are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability and the claim of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver due to VA treatment with nefazodone (Serzone). The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's heart disorder is not service-connected due to unrelated hypertension. His lung disorder, diagnosed as interstitial fibrosis with a lung transplant, is also not service-connected and the appeal for TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. The decision found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disease and its connection to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to work due to service-connected disabilities and further information about his current financial status.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravates his coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining investigative reports and medical records.

The Veteran's hypertension, heart disorder, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have been addressed. The claims for service connection are granted with the appropriate ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus. The medical evidence did not support a higher rating for diabetes mellitus.

The VA has denied the claims for increased ratings for left knee patella femoral pain syndrome, right knee patella femoral pain syndrome, and left shoulder tendonitis. The evidence does not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board found no current heart disability and concluded that any heart issues are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease with history of myocardial infarction and bilateral stent replacement (diagnosed as coronary artery disease) due to new and material evidence. The claims are granted as these conditions are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran seeks service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD). The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining service treatment records and determining whether the Veteran's current heart condition had its onset during service. The case is REMANDED to the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected and nonservice-connected disabilities prevent him from successfully achieving his chosen vocational goal of pursuing a master's degree in social work. The VR&E Division found that he did not maintain satisfactory conduct and cooperation in developing and implementing the program, and mitigating circumstances beyond his control are not demonstrated.