Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board found that the appellant does not have coronary artery disease (claimed as heart disease) related to his military service or his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis. The claim for an increased rating for pulmonary tuberculosis was also denied.

The veteran's hypertension with arteriosclerotic heart disease was not properly reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent from July 1, 2003, to January 19, 2005. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 10 percent, and his coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent. The veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied.

The veteran died from dementia and other conditions, but the service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service and post-service medical records, and scheduling a VA examination to determine if current disabilities are related to findings noted in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, heart disorders and hypertension, right eye disability (not established), and an increased evaluation for PTSD. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The veteran's service-connected hypertensive heart disease was rated at 30 percent from February 28, 2002 through July 7, 2005. From November 1, 2005 to the present, he is rated at 60 percent for his myocardial infarction and improved ejection fraction. The veteran's hypertension was also rated at 30 percent from January 1998 through February 2002.

The Board determined that the veteran's cause of death, congestive heart failure, was not caused by or a result of any service-connected disability. The service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, and a bilateral leg disorder, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The appeals were based on secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for renal disease, hypertension, coronary artery disease, reflux disease, and arthritis (except of the left leg) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disability and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident are not related to his active military service or his service-connected peripheral vascular disease of the feet. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; hypertension; and coronary artery disease. The veteran's anxiety disorder was not linked to any in-service stressors or events. His hypertension and coronary artery disease were not found to be related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia and pain and numbness in the upper and lower extremities, secondary to service-connected disabilities of the spine were granted. His claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for hypertension was denied. The effective date for his award of a 100% disability rating for coronary artery disease was set at June 10, 2002. He also received a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's heart disease is related to service. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until after the requirements of this remand have been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of exercise testing for METs levels, which is central to evaluating the veteran's heart disability. The veteran needs to provide any relevant evidence and must be scheduled for a VA heart examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain the veteran's Social Security Administration disability file.

The Board found that the veteran's current coronary artery disease post myocardial infarction was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for IBS/GERD and found that hypertension and PVD were not service-connected, with the reasons provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder aggravated his non-service- connected coronary artery disease, warranting a grant of service connection for the coronary artery disease.