Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of rheumatic fever and dengue fever, as well as their associated cardiovascular disabilities. The evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and enlarged heart were not caused by hospitalization or medical or surgical treatment provided by VA, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or the result of aggravation by his service-connected disabilities, and he is entitled to compensation for that degree of additional disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's kidney disability with hypertension improved, warranting a reduction from a 100% rating to a 30% rating. The veteran is also seeking an evaluation in excess of 30%, but the evidence does not support such a higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for allergic and vasomotor rhinitis, finding that his symptoms are due to a diagnosed condition rather than an undiagnosed illness. The claims for increased ratings for gout and hypertension remain pending.

The veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code was denied as he failed to cooperate and report for scheduled evaluations without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for swollen throat glands, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The veteran's claim for swollen throat glands was reopened based on new evidence. Service connection for the condition was not established.,Hypertension was not shown during active duty or within one year post-service, and there is no current disability to support a service connection claim.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disorder and also denied his secondary service connection claim for hypertension. The decision concluded that there was no evidence of a service-connected back disorder, and thus, hypertension could not be considered secondary.

The Board denied the veteran's original claim of service connection for a right eye condition. The new evidence submitted does not meet the criteria to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension with generalized arteriosclerosis warrants a 10 percent rating, as it requires medication for control and does not meet criteria for higher ratings under current VA regulations.

The Board finds a reasonable possibility exists that further examination or development will aid in establishing service connection for visual disability and tension headaches.,There is no reasonable possibility of establishing service connection for memory loss or profuse sweating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of bipolar disorder as secondary to his service-connected psychophysiological cardiovascular reaction with hypertension and an increased rating for his service-connected psychophysiological cardiovascular reaction with hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 10% disability rating. The claims for arthritis of the hands and knees, arthritis of the knees, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic low back strain, and residuals of fractures to three bones of the left foot have all been granted with appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral foot disability, and back disability have been denied. The evidence submitted did not meet the criteria to reopen these previously denied claims.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied. The RO has maintained the current evaluations, which are considered adequate to compensate the veteran for his disabilities.

The veteran's well-grounded claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is granted, but the RO has not yet determined if he meets the income requirements. The Board also notes that his disabilities are due to willful misconduct and may not be considered in determining eligibility.

The veteran's essential hypertension is found to have had its onset during his period of active military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected conditions, including hypertension and right eye disability. The lumbosacral strain claim was partially granted with a 10 percent evaluation from August 30, 1996 to October 30, 1998, and a 40 percent evaluation thereafter.

The Board granted service connection for aortic insufficiency with atrial fibrillation and hypertension, assigning a 60% evaluation effective from November 19, 1998. The veteran's low back disability is considered well grounded but the right ankle sprain claim is not. The initial evaluation of his heart condition was increased to 60%.