Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2005

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or home adaptation grant due to his current functional status and lack of permanent total disability.

The Board found that the evidence submitted did not meet the criteria for reopening the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were granted, but the tinnitus was also granted. The issues of service connection for a left foot disability are referred to the RO.

The Board finds that the veteran's spouse was in need of regular aid and attendance due to her physical disabilities, including a stroke resulting in hemiparesis and wheelchair use. The claim is granted.

The veteran's non-service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of psoriasis with arthritis of multiple joints and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's ASHD is rated at 30 percent, and his degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 20 percent. The rating for ASHD remains unchanged, while a higher rating was granted for the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, acid reflux disease, diverticulitis, multiple skin cancers of the face and arms, and peripheral vascular disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or any incident therein.

The Board found that the veteran's present cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and are not otherwise related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of hypertension and left knee disorder are denied. The claim for service connection for psychiatric disorder is reopened, but the new evidence does not establish a relationship to service. The claim for service connection for left optic atrophy remains denied as no new and material evidence has been presented.

The veteran's hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since November 20, 1993 and at 20 percent beginning November 7, 2002. The Board found that the criteria for a higher evaluation were not met during both periods.

The veteran's appeal on the issue of an increased rating for hypertension has been withdrawn. The skin condition case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural and developmental matters, including clarification of representation, obtaining medical records, and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case for his claim of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial evaluation of 70 percent. The veteran appealed for a higher initial rating, which the Board denied. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus with an effective date prior to October 31, 2001, but not for hypertension or melioidosis.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for hypertension was denied, and his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is of service origin and grants service connection for essential hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting hypertension was not aggravated by his active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The VA denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 based on hypothetical entitlement to a total disability rating for at least 10 years prior to death.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that hypertension, epididymitis, plantar fasciitis of the right foot, plantar fasciitis of the left foot, post-operative meniscectomy of the left knee, hemorrhoids, and sleep apnea did not warrant higher ratings or service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The VA found no evidence of chronic residuals from a ganglion cyst on the left wrist, crush injury to the right middle finger, or skin disorder in service. Hypertension was not shown to have been present in service and is not presumed by law. Bilateral defective hearing was also not shown to be related to service.