Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2005

The VA treatment did not result in additional disability or death, and the proximate cause of the veteran's death was not due to VA fault. The Board found that the veteran died from sepsis related to his wounds, but the family's decision to decline an above-the-knee amputation prevented him from receiving potentially life-saving care.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease have been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, residuals of bilateral ankle sprain, and hypertension. The veteran was not granted any new ratings or benefits.

The VA determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not related to his service-connected major depressive disorder. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of hypertension should be April 17, 2001, as this is when the veteran submitted her request to reopen her claim. The earlier requested dates are denied.

The veteran's hypertension, which requires continuous medication for control, has been manifested by diastolic pressure readings predominantly less than 110 and systolic pressure readings predominantly less than 200. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain all relevant medical records and Social Security Administration records, and then readjudicate the veteran's claims. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims for secondary service connection for hypertension, nephropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and an eye disability due to a failure to file a timely substantive appeal. The issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and PTSD were addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records, scheduling VA examinations, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and an increased evaluation for PTSD. The VA found no medical relationship between the veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes, nor did it find that hypertension was proximately due to his service-connected diabetes. For PTSD, the Board granted a 50 percent disability rating but noted that all reasonable doubt had been resolved in favor of the veteran.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims of personality disorder and PTSD, but service connection was granted for dysthymic disorder, hypertension, and low back disability.

The veteran's application for TDIU was received on September 13, 2001. The effective date of the grant of TDIU is set at November 3, 2000, as this is when entitlement to TDIU arose in the year preceding the date of the veteran's claim.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and right knee disability were granted. The claim for a compensable evaluation for macular degeneration was denied. The veteran is now service-connected for PTSD with a rating of 50%.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, service connection for back disability, heart disability, and hypertension. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a 50% rating for PTSD or establish direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it secondary to his service-connected asbestosis. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for end stage renal disease and hypertension need to be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the record. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and hypertension. The veteran's PTSD is found to be the result of combat operations in Vietnam, while his hypertension was not addressed due to procedural issues.

The Board has granted a rating of 60 percent for Raynaud's disease, to include cold injury residuals, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for hypertension.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus due to lack of medical evidence supporting this relationship.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).