Ischemic heart disease Board decisions

The Board has granted an effective date of February 16, 1994 for the award of disability benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident with homonymous hemianopsia and heart disability as the result of VA medical treatment.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease due to a lack of evidence showing treatment or diagnosis in service, and no competent medical evidence linking the current condition to any service-connected injury.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's thrombophlebitis of the left leg, effective from April 1992. The claim of service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to his service-connected thrombophlebitis is considered well grounded.

The veteran's service-connected bronchiectasis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sinusitis are found to be of such severity as to prevent him from engaging in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational attainment and occupational experience, warranting a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral pterygium and determined that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for heart disease.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypertension with coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a comprehensive VA examination.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and above the left knee amputation.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the current 30 percent evaluation adequately reflects his disability.

The veteran died due to multiple service-connected conditions. The appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for DIC benefits was denied as there is no evidence of a prior application filed before March 7, 1995.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease are not well grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of new and material evidence for service connection due to coronary artery disease, as no additional medical evidence linking his current condition to service was provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for depression, hypertension, heart disease, stomach disability, and back disability are not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that there is no causal relationship between the veteran's heart disease, including cardiac arrhythmias with atrial flutters and intermittent fibrillation, and his service-connected deep vein thrombosis of the left leg. The evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's heart condition was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease with angina pectoris originated in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the application to reopen the claim of service connection for heart disease and determined that a left shoulder disorder was incurred in active service. The claim of service connection for bilateral elbow disorder is not well grounded.

The veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking the cause of death to military service.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted, effective April 25, 1994.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 100 percent for the veteran's service-connected cardiovascular disability, effective from January 1993 to March 1, 1993. The ratings for arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracic spine remain at 10 percent each, while the rating for traumatic arthritis of the left ankle is maintained at 10 percent.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a coronary artery bypass graft was denied. The RO assigned noncompensable ratings from July 22, 1991, to May 27, 1997, and a 40 percent rating from May 28, 1997, to August 31, 1998. The veteran's disability was returned to noncompensable ratings after that period.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current heart disease or low back disability to his service, including any incidents therein. The Board also found no evidence of aggravation of pre-existing conditions in service.