Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2000

The Board previously denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension. The case is being remanded to allow the veteran to have a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a videoconference hearing at the Winston-Salem, North Carolina Regional Office of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Board found that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension and hiatal hernia, as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his contact dermatitis and hypertension, as well as a TDIU claim based on service-connected disabilities, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability ratings beyond the current levels.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection on multiple issues, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection in any of these areas.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and determined that it is well grounded. The veteran's current hypertension is attributable to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death is not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking his heart and pulmonary conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with hypertension, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under either the old or new criteria.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain additional medical records from VA and private sources, including SSA records. The case will be remanded for further development.

The veteran's service-connected renovascular hypertension secondary to partial occlusion of the right renal artery was rated at 60 percent from July 16, 1991, through February 16, 1994. From February 17, 1994, the rating was increased to 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder, including cardiac valve disease with valve replacement surgery, is related to his period of service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and found that his back disability was aggravated by his military service with UTARNG. The cardiovascular disorder, including hypertension, is not well grounded.

The Board granted service connection for sarcoid arthritis of multiple joints and unspecified pneumoconiosis, sarcoidosis. The effective dates were set at July 20, 1993.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic low back disability, neck injury, right epididymitis, hypertension with chest pain, dental condition secondary to sinusitis, and asthma secondary to sinusitis are not well-grounded. The evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is not well grounded. However, his claim for service connection for splenomegaly with thrombocytopenia as secondary to service-connected malaria is well grounded and requires further development.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease with angina pectoris, status post myocardial infarctions, and severe hypertension, currently rated at 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well-grounded and denied them.

The veteran died of cardiovascular disease due to hypertension. His service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.