Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability is denied because there is no competent medical evidence linking the two.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his physical limitations, but independence in daily living activities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence to support a plausible claim for any of these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the University of South Alabama Medical Center on August 4, 1997, as it does not meet the legal criteria required to establish entitlement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728(a).

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his hospitalization at a private facility is denied as he has never established service connection for any disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension, maintaining a 60 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease, spinal arthritis, and hypertension. The claims were not well-grounded as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other plausible exposure basis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain, hypertension, and tinea manus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a comprehensive VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, and arthritis due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during military service.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded, as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link between his claimed conditions and military service.

The veteran's death was caused by renal failure, cancer of the esophagus, hypertension, and diabetes. These conditions were not service-connected.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and therefore, the claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by myocardial infarction, and there is evidence suggesting a plausible relationship between his service-connected hypertension and his death. The claim for service connection for cause of death is well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is well-grounded. However, his claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities were denied as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current hypertension to his military service, and thus denied the claim.

The veteran's claim of service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder is well grounded and the appeal is allowed. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and opinions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and atrial fibrillation, to include as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the August 1994 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 30 percent rating. Service connection was denied for arthritis of the hands and knees, but reopened on new evidence. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has denied claims for service connection for malaria, anemia, hypertension, and cancer of the prostate as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hypoventilation with pulmonary hypertension and heart failure were aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder, warranting secondary service connection.