Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2002

The veteran's nicotine dependence, coronary artery disease including myocardial infarctions, and hypertension are all found to be related to his service. The Board granted the veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for heart disease with hypertension, finding that there is no evidence relating this condition to his active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, low back disability, and transient global amnesia. The claim to reopen a kidney disorder (Blight's disease) was also denied.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claim for service connection for hypertension. The initial noncompensable ratings for PTSD and residuals of a right ankle fracture remain on appeal, with the issue of an increased rating for the ankle fracture from June 8, 2000 still pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection, increased evaluation, and compensation for residuals of syphilis are not supported by the evidence presented. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his residuals of syphilis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants this claim.

The Board denied a higher 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 inpatient hospitalization at York Hospital from January 31, 2001 to February 2, 2001 was not considered an emergency requiring reimbursement or payment by VA due to the delay in seeking care and the availability of VA facilities.

The veteran's TDIU was granted effective from June 12, 1985 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from engaging in substantially gainful employment since that date.

The veteran's multiple diseases and disabilities, including AIDS, kidney disease, hypertension, and PTSD, taken together, preclude substantially gainful employment. The Board grants nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic sinus disorder, and chronic headache disorder. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred during active duty or due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The VA determined that the veteran's disabilities do not render him unable to adequately attend to daily living needs or substantially confined to his dwelling and immediate premises, thus denying special monthly pension benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board found that hypertension and hyperlipidemia are not service-connected.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was not granted as the additional disability or death did not result from VA treatment.

The Board found that the appellant's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claims.

The veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma was denied. The claims for service connection for blood in the urine, hypertension, and pyorrhea were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection was granted for a low back disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a heart condition during the veteran's service or within one year after separation. The current medical records do not link his current heart disability to his military service.

The veteran's disabilities do not render him unable to care for most of his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor are they housebound in fact. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, a skin disorder, and hypertension. The psychiatric disorder is considered to be a panic disorder incurred during active service.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension, effective August 2, 2001.