Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of current heart disease or arthritis, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, and coronary artery disease as secondary to herbicide exposure. The RO had already granted these benefits with an effective date of April 30, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including chronic back disorder, left hip disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder, are not service-connected. The heart disease is also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's current heart disorder is not related to his active service and denied his claim.

The veteran's medical condition, due to multiple service-connected disabilities, resulted in him being unable to walk without assistance and requiring a wheelchair. The Board finds that his loss of use of both feet meets the criteria for SMC based on accrued benefits purposes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and psychiatric condition. The RO denied these claims in October 1993, finding no evidence of such conditions during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the right thumb, and arthritis of the left thumb. The veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional clarification of medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for nicotine dependency and coronary artery disease, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's ischemic heart disease, which contributed to his death, is service-connected due to his internment as a POW.

The Board found that the veteran's current heart disabilities are not etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition, finding that there is no evidence of an increase in disability prior to March 25, 2003. The effective date for his increased rating for post-traumatic stress disorder was set at March 25, 2003.

The veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder did not play a role in his death, nor was it causally related to any of the conditions that led to his death. The Board denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension with hypertensive heart disease, finding no evidence of a nexus to military service or diabetes mellitus.,Service connection was also denied for residuals of a herniated disc of the lumbar spine due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and heart disease are being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical examinations.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence indicating the veteran acquired a chemical addiction to nicotine (i.e., nicotine dependence) as a result of his service in the military, or that use of tobacco products during service caused his terminal arteriosclerotic heart disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death was denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a heart disability, as new and material evidence has been received. However, it was determined that the current heart disability (coronary artery disease) is not related to his in-service left bundle branch block or any disease or injury in service.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease was not incurred or aggravated during service and cannot be presumed to have been incurred due to a known pre-existing condition. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative rheumatic heart disease is aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.