Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by service-connected conditions. The Veteran did not meet the duration requirements for a total disability rating under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and there is no evidence of CUE in any prior decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a heart condition and whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for headaches. The Veteran's claims of hearing loss and back condition are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder, Crohn's disease, and tingling and numbness of the hands and feet due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient explanation of a VA examiner's opinion and lack of proper statement of the case on PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD and hypertension, finding that these conditions were not related to his active military service or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence linking a current heart disability to service, and therefore the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from March 1, 2003 to March 4, 2003 are denied as he has a health-plan contract with Medicare that precludes reimbursement. The claim for treatment at LDS Hospital is also denied due to lack of other insurance coverage.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical care and services rendered at St. John Medical Center on February 28, 2007 is denied as the VA facilities were deemed feasible and there was no indication of a life-threatening emergency.

The Veteran's death was due to arteriosclerotic heart disease, which had onset during service. The Board found that the cause of death is service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, lung condition, neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), right shoulder arthritis, left hand arthritis, bilateral wrist arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip arthritis have been denied. The denial is based on the lack of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed PTSD.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective October 31, 2006 as his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable in the year prior to his claim.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his physical disabilities, including dementia/memory loss, is established. As a result, he qualifies for special monthly pension benefits based on the need for A&A.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Florida from August 6 to August 7, 2003 is being remanded due to incomplete information and the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder contributed to his fatal myocardial infarction, leading to death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and coronary artery disease, as new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board finds that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims based on the relationship between the service-connected PTSD and the current conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The issue of hypertension will be remanded to obtain a medical opinion addressing whether it was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA medical records.