Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claim for secondary service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence showing a link between his service-connected PTSD and his current hypertension.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's claimed conditions to his active service, ACDUTRA period, or to his service-connected leishmania. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his head injury during service, and there is insufficient evidence linking his headaches or stomach cramps to service. The hypertension claim lacks sufficient evidence to establish its onset in service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for hypertension has been denied as the evidence does not demonstrate that his systolic or diastolic blood pressure readings consistently meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral eye disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, arthritis, and unspecified cancer. The evidence did not support an etiological relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, or hypertension due to service. The evidence shows that any current psychiatric issues and hypertension predated his military service.

The Board found that the claimed cardiac, left leg, and diabetes conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not show a connection to any incident of service.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, which was previously denied in September 1981. The reopening is based on additional statements from friends, family members, and fellow servicemen who corroborate the veteran's history of high blood pressure during service.

The veteran's hypertension was found to have its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. As there is no evidence of in-service aggravation, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities of hypertension, peptic ulcer disease, chronic bronchitis, and hemorrhoids were not incurred or aggravated during active military service. These conditions may not be presumed to be causally related to such service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or a result of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and hypertension.

The RO increased the evaluation for chondromalacia of the right knee with meniscal tear from zero to 20 percent, effective February 1998. The other conditions and issues remain unchanged.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected arterial hypertension with hypertensive cardiovascular disease and left ventricular hypertrophy, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, degenerative joint disease (multiple sites), gastrointestinal disorder, and chest pain are not related to his military service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, which was previously denied in November 1996. The veteran's testimony provided significant information indicating that he had hypertension prior to completing his active duty training (ADT) in January 1994.

The Board denied service connection for cardiovascular disability, including hypertension, and other chronic disabilities claimed by the veteran. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The veteran's claims of service connection for an eye disability, residuals of a head injury, and hypertension were not properly appealed within the required time frame.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation benefits at the (r)(2) rate, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented to reopen his claim.