Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disorder, hypertension, and non-nephrotic proteinuria.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension, hepatitis, hiatal hernia, and onychomycosis of the left great toe. The claim for service connection for lumbosacral spine strain was reopened based on new evidence showing current disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hypertension, migraine headaches, and dysphagia were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disability and heart condition (to include cardiovascular disease and hypertension) were not incurred or aggravated during service, nor can they be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated during service. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation as secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, but denied service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated during such service. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, skin disorder, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hepatitis C. The RO granted his claim for service connection for PTSD but assigned an initial 30 percent rating, which is the maximum non-compensable rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support these claims as they are not related to service.

The veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating based on his blood pressure readings.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted. Her current diagnosis of hypertension is related to her in-service findings, meeting the criteria for direct service connection. The claim for a compensable evaluation for her status post loss of less than half of the hard palate replaceable by prosthetic appliance remains pending.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for hypertension with headaches and dizziness, as the veteran's blood pressure was controlled with medication and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's hearing loss and cold injury residuals. The claim for service connection will be reconsidered based on the additional development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the veteran's hypertension and chronic renal insufficiency, as well as to address whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or PTSD.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened. The claim for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or that it was caused by service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hypertension or hemorrhoids, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The claims of service connection for tinnitus and psychiatric disability are also addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and hypertension, with a 20 percent evaluation assigned for lumbosacral strain effective prior to September 26, 2003.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claims, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities as well as his hypertension.