Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2003

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension was not present during service or within one year after separation, and therefore may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the veteran had hypertension during service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and hypertension/heart disability, finding insufficient evidence to support the claims. The veteran's reported stressors were not verified, and there was no credible supporting evidence of an inservice stressor or a link between current symptoms and military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The veteran's conditions, including his delusional disorder and skin cancer, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance. However, he meets the criteria for housebound benefits due to multiple independent disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back disorder, hypertension, and residuals of head injury with concussion and skull fracture were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for residuals of nose fracture is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of cardiovascular disease, undescended testicle, head pains, or gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hypertension or chronic low back disability that was incurred in service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to atherosclerotic coronary artery disease with history of hypertension, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by hypertension, which existed during service and contributed to his fatal acute myocardial infarction. The claim for service connection is granted.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected hypertension, finding that his blood pressure readings did not meet the diagnostic requirements for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease and hypertension are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension with chest pains is not related to his military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left rib cage injury with thoracic spine arthritis was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any condition for which he served. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The veteran's additional disabilities, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, are not deemed to be proximately caused by VA medical treatment in May 1996.

The Board finds that the veteran's current heart disease and hypertension were incurred during his active duty service.

The veteran's service-connected hypertension is characterized by elevated blood pressure, but does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or substantially contribute to his death. The primary cause of death was attributed to aspiration pneumonia secondary to a cerebrovascular accident, with significant contributing factors including congestive heart failure and other pre-existing conditions.