Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2003

The veteran's hypertension is not service-connected, but his frostbite residuals are rated at 30 percent for the period from January 12, 1998.

The VA denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that there was no basis to grant it. The appellant did not provide information about any non-VA healthcare providers who treated the veteran for hypertension or a cerebrovascular accident during his lifetime.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a giant hairy nevus of his child, claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure, is without legal merit and denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and skin rash are remanded for further development.

The Board granted the veteran's pension effective August 24, 2000, finding that the earliest date of receipt of a claim for entitlement to pension is August 24, 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right leg amputation is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of gunshot wounds to the right buttock with sciatic nerve.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues and requested evidence. The appeal is currently remanded for additional development.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case will be returned to the RO for obtaining service records and then reviewed again.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the veteran's condition was manifested during his military service and is still present. The other claims were not addressed as they are no longer before the Board.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are presumptively related to his military service.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for a cardiology examination. The case is now remanded to the RO for additional review and possible issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has denied service connection for heart murmur, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and post-operative aortic valvular disease as these conditions are not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by hypertension, which began during service and was aided by his use of pain medication for a service-connected low back disability. As such, the cause of the veteran's death is now considered service connected.

The Board denied service connection for postoperative residuals of bilateral mammoplasty and an increased rating for hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is proximately due to the veteran's service-connected atypical erythema multiforme. Service connection for Hepatitis C was not addressed as it does not fall under the scope of this decision.

The VA denied an increased disability evaluation for hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy, effective as of December 14, 1995, but prior to January 12, 1998, finding that the veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the old criteria for hypertensive heart disease and hypertensive vascular disease.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have aggravated his non-service-connected hypertension and coronary artery disease by a degree of at least 10 percent, warranting the assignment of a 10% disability rating for those conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his coronary artery disease and right metatarsal fractures, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current psychiatric, gastrointestinal, or cardiovascular conditions to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not considered service-connected due to lack of medical evidence connecting it to service. Residuals from colon cancer surgery and irritable bowel syndrome are also not linked to service. Hypertension was not shown to be related to service either.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection and rated at 50 percent prior to April 27, 2001, and at 70 percent thereafter. The veteran's tinnitus was also granted service connection with a 10 percent evaluation.