Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current hypertension and coronary artery disease and his military service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. Service connection will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder, including coronary artery disease following bypass graft surgery, are being reviewed.

The Veteran's death was not due to service or a service-connected disability, and thus no child or surviving spouse is eligible for DEA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart problems, including coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and atherosclerotic heart disease, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease rated at 100 percent disabling, meet the criteria for special monthly pension at the housebound rate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder DJD and heart condition are both service-connected. The right shoulder DJD is considered incurred in service, while the heart condition may not be presumed to have been incurred due to military service.

The Board is reopening the low back disorder claim and remanding both the low back disorder and cardiovascular service connection claims for further development. The Veteran's current disorders are being considered on a direct basis due to his alleged contact with chemical agents, oil well fires, and smoke during his service in the Persian Gulf.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for chest pain (also claimed as coronary artery disease) and continued a 10 percent disability rating for hypertension. The new evidence received since the June 1999 denial did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for a heart disability. However, it was not able to establish that the Veteran's current heart condition is related to his period of active service or any disease or injury incurred during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertensive heart disease and left ventricular hypertrophy are related to his service, including the myocardial infarction he suffered in January 1990 during inactive duty for training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his aspiration pneumonia, which is considered a contributory cause of death. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the aspiration pneumonia contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for coronary artery disease, status post coronary bypass, was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for pes planus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, gout, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative joint disease of both knees. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has reconsidered the Veteran's claims and found that new service personnel records received since the January 1998 rating decision are relevant to his diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease claims. As a result, these claims have been reopened.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate, bladder, kidney stones, hernia, heart and vision disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and heart disability are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, to include as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review of his claims folder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, as well as an opinion from a cardiologist regarding the Veteran's heart conditions.