Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2001

The veteran's death was caused by small cell carcinoma of the lung, which is not service-connected. The appellant also seeks educational assistance under Chapter 35 but does not meet the eligibility criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease with hypertension is not related to his service, including as secondary to nicotine dependence.

The veteran's claim for TDIU benefits was granted effective November 1, 1995. The decision found that the veteran had been unemployable due to service-connected conditions since November 1, 1995.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected nicotine dependence aggravated his hypertension, coronary artery disease, and myocardial infarction. Therefore, these conditions are granted as secondary to nicotine dependence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right hand disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, low back disorder, and psychiatric disorder. The claim for increased rating of cervical spine condition is granted to a 40% disability rating.

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

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and special monthly compensation were denied as the earliest date of entitlement was October 17, 1997.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in 1987 due to lack of evidence. The RO found that new and material evidence had not been submitted since the last denial, as there is no current disability at present. In October 2000, the veteran provided VA medical records indicating a diagnosis of hypertension, which reopened his claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection due to undiagnosed illness were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not have signs and symptoms of stress, memory loss, headaches, night sweats and sleeplessness, hypertension with dizziness, prepyloric and duodenal erosions, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, nosebleeds, swollen glands, hair loss, or weight gain due to undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform daily functions of self-care and protect himself from hazards, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service and concluding that any current hypertension is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his lung cancer, which is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and survivors' and dependents' educational assistance under Chapter 35 of the United States Code, Title 38 has therefore been granted.

The veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to current blood pressure readings.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiovascular disease, finding it is secondary to the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to his various disabilities, including cholecystitis, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, pneumonia with infected pleural fluid, right empyema, cystitis with hematuria, anemia, degenerative joint disease of the shoulders and neck, torn left rotator cuff, peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the cervical, dorsal and lumbar spine, hypertension, memory loss and disorientation, vertigo, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence submitted since the last final decision is not new or material.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension with carotid artery disease, loss of teeth numbers 7 to 10, and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left shoulder. Service connection is granted for these conditions based on direct evidence. The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tension headaches, which began during his service in the Persian Gulf, are related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship to service or his service-connected ulcer disability.

The veteran's appeal was granted, with a 10 percent disability rating for hypertension effective August 1, 1991. The issue of entitlement to increased ratings for scleroderma remains pending.