Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The Board found that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension on account of need for regular aid and attendance or being permanently housebound.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the current diagnoses were not related to military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension with heart palpitations was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim. However, it granted his petition to reopen his previously denied claim for hearing loss of the right ear.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or headache disability as claimed. The evidence did not support service connection for any of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic retinopathy, tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo, arthritis of the right elbow, and hypertension were all denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or congestive heart failure due to lack of in-service diagnosis and no credible exposure to Agent Orange or asbestos. The veteran's claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a head injury, including cognitive disorders and memory dysfunction, are service-connected. The mental disorder to include PTSD is not service-connected. Asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux disease, hypertension, and fibromyalgia are also not service-connected as secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for SMP based on the need for A&A or housebound status, finding that he did not meet the criteria for either benefit. The issue of reducing his income for pension purposes was remanded to the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for asthma is related to asbestos exposure.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including pulmonary conditions and a thoracostomy scar. The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, attributing it to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to a combined service-connected disability rating of 80 percent due to hypertension as secondary to asthma. The ratings for his other service-connected conditions (asthma, allergic rhinitis with chronic sinusitis, and anxiety-neurosis with depression) were also upheld.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, concluding that the disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the veteran has current disabilities of residuals of frostbite in both upper and lower extremities, which were incurred during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his hypertension, which in turn caused coronary artery disease. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for hypertension and assigned an effective date of October 1, 2002, for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease. The veteran's hypertension is characterized by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more requiring continuous medication for control.

The veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. However, the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II, has been denied.

The veteran's vocational rehabilitation claim is being remanded for further development and evaluation due to the addition of new evidence.

The veteran's disabilities, including a CVA with left hemiparesis (30%), arthritis of the shoulders, knees, and lumbar spine (10%), and hypertension (10%), do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension benefits based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.