Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

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.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and he was granted a rating of 10 percent for synovitis of the right knee. The remaining claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right shoulder pain and right scapula condition, chest pain, bronchitis, influenza with headaches, low back disability, esophoria, nosebleed, and residuals of a foreign object in the eye. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's service in the Republic of Vietnam and providing VCAA notice.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, as well as other disability claims, was denied by the RO. The Board found that there is no medical evidence linking any current heart condition to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart disorder is not caused by or related to his service-connected skin disorders, including anxiety due to eczema. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection and the opinion from the VA cardiologist concluded it was less likely than not that the Veteran's skin condition significantly aggravated his coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal of the claims for cardiovascular disorder, including coronary artery disease and status post coronary bypass graft, and a disability claimed as allergic reaction to penicillin have been dismissed. The claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but the Board finds that service connection is not warranted based on the available evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of erectile dysfunction and service connection for various conditions have been denied. The RO also reopened a claim for kidney infections but did not grant the benefit sought.