Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2002

The Board denied service connection for hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis and also denied an increased evaluation for residuals of pulmonary tuberculosis with fibrothorax. The issue regarding TDIU was not addressed in this decision.

The veteran's claims for headaches, skin disorder, circulatory disorder, and low back disorder were all denied. The veteran was granted a 10% evaluation for his headaches.

The Board has granted increased evaluations for hypertension, residuals of right cerebral artery infarction, degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, and degenerative joint disease of the left ankle. The veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated based on their current manifestations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and residuals of toxemia poisoning as there is no competent medical evidence showing a link between these conditions and her military service.

The veteran's claim for TDIU benefits prior to November 3, 1993 was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, emphysema, and reflux esophagitis. The veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent but the Board found no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that sepsis was not related to any in-service disease or injury and no service-connected condition contributed to his death.

The Board finds that the appellant's disabilities, when considered in conjunction with each other, result in an inability to protect herself from the hazards and dangers of her daily environment. Therefore, she meets the criteria for a special monthly pension on account of the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied an increased rating for hypertension, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, finding that the veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for such an increase under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the evidence submitted was not new and material.

The Board has jurisdiction over the case due to a timely filed VA Form 9 in September 1995. The veteran's hypertension and epicondylitis of the left elbow with DJD are rated at 10 percent each, effective May 19, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease with hypertension, finding that the veteran's current condition is not linked to his active military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's acne vulgaris, hypertension, headaches, and back disorder are all service-connected as they were diagnosed during or shortly after his active duty.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and there are no additional issues related to this condition.

The veteran's mechanical low back pain is currently rated at 10 percent, and his hypertension is rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current hypertension and denied his claims for service connection for migraine headaches, hypertension, and epididymitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed hypertension was at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence of hypertension during or within one year after active service and concluding that there is no competent medical evidence linking current hypertension to active service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected heart disease with coronary bypass and hypertension did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, thus denying his claim for an increased rating.