Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and TDIU. The Board has determined that these claims are inextricably intertwined with his pending service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA physician's opinion regarding whether stress associated with service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, obesity, and bilateral knee disorders on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for coronary artery disease is also granted as it is proximately due to the Veteran's obesity.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected rheumatic heart disease, currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The RO continued the Veteran's 30 percent evaluation based on a limitation of METs level due to nonservice-connected vestibular disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board also found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's current condition to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on a confirmed in-service stressor and continuity of symptomatology. The other issues are addressed below.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for atherosclerotic heart disease and low back pain was denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has determined that neither the Veteran's military service nor his service-connected bilateral lower extremity neurovascular disorder caused or contributed to his death. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was respiratory failure, COPD, fractured cervical vertebra, and vascular dysfunction-atherosclerotic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion from the VA examiner to clarify the diagnoses and etiology opinions provided in her September 2008 and November 2008 addendum reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and hepatitis C due to procedural and evidentiary development issues. The Veteran is also seeking a hearing on his claims of entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound, and whether a May 1995 rating decision was clearly and unmistakably erroneous (CUE) in denying service connection for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disease (claimed as cardiomegaly), and sleep apnea. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been presented to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's death was not determined to be service-connected. The claim for DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 has been denied as there is no legal basis for entitlement.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart murmur and occluded anterior descending coronary artery were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the appellant does not have a current heart condition or disability of the long finger, right hand and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's death was determined to be caused by his service-connected disabilities, specifically depression resulting from his diabetes and other conditions. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as the cause of death claim has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability, including his dysthymic disorder and cardiovascular conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including hypertensive heart disease. The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and assistance in attending to his daily activities.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for reimbursement of unauthorized, non-VA medical expenses incurred on November 1-2, 2005 at a private hospital due to lack of emergency circumstances and failure to obtain prior authorization.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.