Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2003

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied her claim.

The veteran's disabilities, including a left calcaneal fracture, hypertension, emphysema, hemorrhoids, and hernia repair, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total rating for pension purposes due to their combined noncompensable evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a surgical chest scar, an eye disability, hypertension, and hearing loss. The evidence did not show current manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and arthritis as secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and fissure in ano. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between any current conditions and military service.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have current diagnoses of duodenal ulcer disease, hypertension, or transient ischemic attacks or mild stroke. The evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's asthma with chronic bronchitis, pulmonary hypertension, and right-sided heart failure have been found to warrant a 100% disability rating due to the presence of right ventricular hypertrophy related to his service-connected respiratory disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension with angina and cardiomyopathy does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as it does not result in congestive heart failure, preclusion of more than light manual labor, or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for maxillary sinusitis and essential hypertension, claimed as atypical chest pain. The evidence did not reveal a current diagnosis of either condition or establish that they were incurred in or aggravated by active duty.

The veteran's bilateral varicose veins are rated at 50% disabling, effective from April 1998. The reduction of the hypertension rating from 20% to 10% is granted and effective from April 1998. The veteran meets criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits were terminated because he was shown to have maintained substantial gainful employment throughout the period of his receipt of pension.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension at the housebound rate is denied as he does not meet the legal criteria for payment of such benefits.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and hearing loss disability. The claim of reopening a previously denied arthritis claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension developed during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's currently manifested arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension are unrelated to his service-connected rheumatic heart disease with angina.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's low back strain prior to May 28, 2002 and a 10 percent rating for his hypertension. The veteran is not entitled to higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, while requiring medication, is stable and well controlled. Therefore, an evaluation greater than 10 percent for hypertension since October 1, 1998, is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's death in 1991 was not caused by a service-connected disability, including as a POW. The medical evidence did not support a finding of any disabilities related to service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted evidence did not address a relationship between the veteran's military service and his cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the TMJs, traumatic arthritis of the back and back pain, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.