Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2005

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and residuals of a right ankle injury, as well as benefits under Section 1151 for post-traumatic stress disorder and diabetes mellitus.,VA compensation was also denied for the veteran's below-the-knee amputation.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the evidence raises a reasonable doubt in favor of its onset during service.

The veteran's hypertension is not currently manifested by blood pressure readings showing diastolic pressure of predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure of predominantly 200 or more. The Board finds that the veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for cerumen impaction of both ears, residuals of a left eye injury, hypertension, lumbosacral spine disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected left ankle fracture), bilateral knee condition (claimed as secondary to service-connected left ankle fracture), and right ankle disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected left ankle fracture). Service connection was not granted for allergic rhinitis.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his gastrointestinal system disability was denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has granted service connection for essential hypertension, finding that the veteran's condition began during his military service and is related to it.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his intercostal neuralgia did not cause or contribute to his myocardial infarction.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for hypertension, finding that the veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The veteran's claims of service connection for ulcers, gunshot wounds to the right forearm and wrist, gunshot wounds to the right thigh, hypertension, and a status post cerebrovascular accident have been denied. The veteran is currently rated at 70% for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for cholecystectomy, Hepatitis C, and essential hypertension. The initial evaluations were found to be inadequate.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's application for nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted as of June 18, 2002. The effective date cannot be earlier than this date due to the criteria for permanent and total disability not being met prior to that time.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, prostate disability, and psychiatric disability have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board's March 24, 2005 decision denying service connection for diabetes mellitus and heart disease/hypertension was dismissed due to the withdrawal of a motion seeking CUE review.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for hypertension as of June 1, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service or within one year of separation, and is not related to any in-service disease or injury. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder (depression) and hypertension, finding no evidence of such conditions in service or related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for asbestosis, finding that his service-connected asbestosis prior to July 23, 2001 was not more severely disabling than indicated by post-treatment pulmonary function test results.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to incomplete development of claims, including a need for VA compensation examinations, medical records from various providers, and clarification of the veteran's service connection claims.