Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2000

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death was not well-grounded and denied it. The appeal regarding entitlement to improved death pension benefits based on income during 1996 was also denied, as there were no accrued benefits due at the time of her husband's death. The Board noted that further development was needed to determine if any accrued benefits could be awarded for subsequent years.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and an increased rating for PTSD, as well as his claim for a higher initial rating for Morton's neuroma of the left foot. The veteran's PTSD is characterized by impairment in concentration, memory, irritability, and depressed mood, but does not render his disability picture unusual or exceptional.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of a bullet wound to the left side of the body, hypertension, and kidney condition. The evidence submitted since the August 1990 RO decision was not new and material.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the right hip, left wrist sprain, low back disorder, hypertension, stomach disorder, cerebral vascular accident (CVA) or stroke, and seizure disorder.

The Board granted the veteran's request for waiver of overpayment of VA vocational rehabilitation benefits, finding that the fault in creating the overpayment outweighed any fault attributed to VA.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for hypertension due to tobacco use in service is not well grounded and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are not well grounded, as there is no competent medical evidence linking these disabilities to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and fibrocystic breast disease do not warrant increased evaluations as their symptoms do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension has been well-controlled with medication and without significant symptoms, thus not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Crohn's disease, polyneuropathy/polyneuritis, hypertension (including a heart condition), and conjunctivitis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected autonomic neuropathy is being remanded due to inadequate development of the record, including an incomplete VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected mixed bipolar disorder did not cause or aggravate her nonservice-connected hypertension, thus denying her claim for secondary service connection.