Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and left arm and hand disorders, but finds that new evidence does not establish a direct causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and reactive airway disease, eczema, acne and folliculitis, and a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). However, the claims are denied as they do not meet the well-grounded claim criteria. The heart disorder claim is also denied.

The veteran's recognized active service does not include status as a POW, and there is no reasonable basis to question the finding of the service department that he was not a POW. The appeal for recognition as a former POW for VA purposes is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was not well-grounded, as there was no evidence showing negligence or fault on the part of VA in causing additional disability.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claims for service connection for organic heart disease and anxiety. The veteran's current medical conditions are linked to issues in service.

The VA determined that the appellant's arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertensive heart disease does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as his condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either the old or new rating criteria.

The VA has granted a 60 percent evaluation for valvular heart disease, status-post aortic and mitral valve replacement, which is the highest schedular rating available. The appellant's unemployability due to service-connected heart disease is also recognized.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, but the claim remains not well-grounded due to insufficient medical evidence linking the cause of death to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for emphysema and a heart disorder, finding that there was no well-grounded evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's death was caused by hypertensive cardiovascular disease, but there is no evidence to support a service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for restoration of a 40 percent evaluation and increased evaluation for his service-connected hypertension with arteriosclerotic heart disease, finding that the evidence does not support such ratings.

The Board has determined that the appellant's coronary artery disease is not of service origin and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The VA has determined that the appellant's beriberi heart disease, diagnosed as arteriosclerotic heart disease, does not warrant a rating higher than 60 percent due to his condition being manifested by normal EKG results, a workload evaluation of 4 metabolic equivalents (METS), and an ejection fraction of 81 percent. The appellant's heart condition is not characterized by coronary occlusion or thrombosis, chronic congestive heart failure, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction less than 30 percent.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected heart condition, including hypertension, is granted. The highest possible evaluation under the rating schedule for cardiovascular disability will be considered.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease is secondary to his service-connected malaria, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease, both secondary to nicotine dependence incurred during military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and left shoulder disorder, but granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and depressive disorder. The veteran's attorney was paid fees based on past-due benefits awarded due to the grant of service connection for left cervical radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease is well grounded and granted. The case was remanded to consider additional evidence, including a possible link between malnutrition during POW status and current heart disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's ischemic heart disease, which was service-connected, caused his death. The cause of death is considered to be directly related to his military service.