Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2003

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and will be remanded for additional consideration.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hypertension began during service and is not secondary to PTSD. The brainstem infarct was caused by longstanding hypertension, which is also considered a direct result of service. Therefore, both conditions are granted as service connected.

The Board denied service connection for ocular hypertension of the left eye and esotropia of the right eye, but granted reopening of a claim for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder. The issue of an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic bronchitis is pending.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to intraventricular cerebral hemorrhage, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's memory loss, headaches, joint pain, respiratory condition, high blood pressure, and psychiatric disability were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence supporting their onset during Persian Gulf service or as undiagnosed illnesses.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of nicotine dependence or chemical addiction to nicotine during service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for hypertension was denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is caused by his service-connected asthma and allergic rhinitis, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease with hypertension, and their relationship to radiation exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues and the need for additional evidence. The case is now remanded back to the RO for examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied all claims, finding that the veteran's right hand injuries were not related to his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and that his heart condition was unrelated to his service. The veteran is also not found in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative bladder puncture residuals including vesicovaginal repair residuals do not warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 60 percent. The hypertension issue is pending further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and anxiety reaction with headaches, dizziness, and dysthymia as there was no evidence of hypertensive cardiovascular disease on current examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, end stage renal disease, and gouty arthritis on a secondary basis to the veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for his heart disorders, finding no competent medical evidence linking any of his current cardiovascular conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular disorder, including hypertension. The case is being remanded to allow for additional development and re-adjudication.

The Board finds that the veteran's low back disability is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, ischemic heart disease, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death by a service-connected disability. The claim for DIC benefits was also denied as there was no evidence linking the cause of death to any service-connected condition.

The veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 80 percent, with at least 40 percent of the disabilities pertaining to orthopedic issues. Medical opinions indicate he is unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.