Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for chronic obstructive and restrictive pulmonary disease and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either the former or revised rating criteria.

The veteran's major depression is rated at 100% since October 20, 1989. The effective date for TDIU benefits has been established as July 3, 1991.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, nor did any such condition contribute to his death. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for glomerulosclerosis with renal insufficiency and hypertension effective October 14, 1996. The veteran's claim was denied for an increased rating based on the newly characterized disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease with hypertension, finding that no new and material evidence was presented to reopen the final denial from August 1997.

The Board finds that the veteran's skin disease, diagnosed as chloracne due to Agent Orange exposure in service, is service-connected. The nervous disorder with memory loss, right ulnar neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, impotence, and hypertension are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death, a myocardial infarction, was not related to his service-connected PTSD with major depression. The hypertension for which he received treatment did not manifest until after separation from service and is not considered a contributory cause of death.

The Board denied an increased rating for hypertension, finding that the veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal was denied on all issues, including service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, and dental trauma. The RO also granted service connection for a skin rash but assigned it a noncompensable rating.

The VA determined that the appellant's current right eye condition, diagnosed as ocular hypertension, was not incurred in or aggravated during active peacetime service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no evidence linking his cardiovascular issues to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, and vertebral-basilar artery atherosclerotic disease are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder with dysthymic disorder.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase during the appeal period.

The Board denied a rating greater than 30 percent for hypertension before April 11, 2001 and greater than 60 percent from that date. The veteran's hypertension was evaluated based on blood pressure readings.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the earliest date of entitlement was May 14, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, finding that there was clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrating that hypertension had its onset prior to his entrance into active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension. However, the veteran's claim is denied as there is no evidence showing a diagnosis of coronary artery disease during or within one year after service, nor can it be presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board also found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and his claimed stressors have not been verified.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected heart disorder did not contribute to his death or accelerate it. The cause of death was determined to be esophageal cancer, which began due to chronic reflux issues related to his service-connected conditions and aggravated by medications for those conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 60 percent for hypertensive cardiovascular disease with hypertension, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.