Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2001

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disability, and Tse-Tse syndrome. The claim for hypertension on secondary basis is granted with a 30% evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and arthritis of the knees. The veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for a back disorder due to lack of evidence showing continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not related to his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of a complete medical history.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes due to her service-connected disabilities, as well as her other nonservice-connected conditions. The RO found that she did not meet the percentage requirements for a combined rating of 70% or more.

The Board found no evidence of a causal nexus between the veteran's active military service and his diagnosed conditions, including GERD, right CTS, and degenerative joint disease of the right elbow. Service connection was denied for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hyperthyroidism, and status post transurethral resection for hypertrophy of the bladder neck. The Board found that his current conditions were not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between his service-connected varicose veins and the underlying causes of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death and entitlement to accrued benefits, finding that there was no evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to active service.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a lumbar laminectomy, with chronic lumbar strain and disc space narrowing due to a compression fracture, substantially or materially contributed to his death from liver failure.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent disabling for accrued benefits purposes. Service connection for hypertension/arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to PTSD is granted, but service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and the cause of death are denied.

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure and tinnitus, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The right knee and left knee disabilities were not addressed as they did not arise during active duty.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension, and thus granted the veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was incurred during active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and new and material evidence submissions, as well as service connection for various conditions. The left hip condition was rated at 10 percent, hearing loss was not compensable, hypertension was also not compensable, and there were no findings regarding hematuria or Achilles tendon spurs.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination by a psychiatrist to assess the extent of his psychiatric pathology.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a total disability rating, and he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his non-service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for heart disease and hypertension due to new evidence provided by the veteran. The Board also granted service connection based on the medical opinion linking current health issues to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that he was not permanently precluded from performing substantial employment due to his physical disabilities.