Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2002

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for hypertension, bursitis of the right hip, spurring of the left knee, and residuals of a left great toe injury with laceration. The appeal regarding service connection for PTSD is also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a sleep disorder, finding no current evidence of these conditions. The bowel disorder and tinnitus were granted as service-connected.

The Board found that the veteran's disability had improved and he no longer needed aid and attendance, leading to termination of his special monthly pension.

The veteran's current disability from mitral and tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary systolic hypertension is deemed to be service-connected.

The veteran is seeking to have a November 1997 rating decision overturned due to clear and unmistakable error in failing to award a compensable rating for his service-connected hypertension. The RO must undertake additional development, including obtaining missing records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's early episode of coronary artery disease, including hypertension, was incurred during his period of active duty for training.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for the veteran's service-connected supraventricular tachycardia, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for polycystic kidney disease with associated hypertension. The claim is therefore granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for right epididymitis and hypertension with chest pain as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, nor could it be linked to active duty.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of the veteran's death to his service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for hypertension, finding that the veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for coronary artery disease and hypertension, and also denied service connection for a right shoulder disability. The claim for TDIU was not addressed in this decision.

The Board found no evidence of a cardiovascular disease during service or within one year after discharge, and concluded that the veteran's current heart condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including pulmonary tuberculosis, peptic ulcer disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and congestive heart failure, were not incurred or aggravated during his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not begin during his active military service and is not associated with such service. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee disability.

The Board found that the appellant's genitourinary, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal disorders did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to active duty. The claims for service connection were therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 11, 1996, for the award of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) with hypertension. The decision stated that there was no legal basis for entitlement to benefits prior to the date of receipt of his initial claim.