Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), finding no causal connection to his active military service. The claim for TDIU was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a rectal mass as secondary to radiation exposure due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA is remanding the case to determine if the veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension is related to his service, including an elevated blood pressure reading in August 1966.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete development and the need for a new VA cardiovascular examination. The case will be reconsidered with consideration of all applicable criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied.

The Board found that hypertension was not manifested during service and is not otherwise related to the veteran's military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for arteriosclerotic heart disease status post questionable anterior infarction effective November 1, 2001.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was denied as he is not found to be in need of such assistance.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for cause of death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted a rating of 10 percent prior to March 28, 1994. The issues of service connection for PTSD and chronic fatigue syndrome remain pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disease and a compensable evaluation for pterygium of the right eye, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Specifically, the Board determined that there was no medical evidence showing a link between the veteran's cardiovascular disease (including hypertension and coronary artery disease) and his military service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for anxiety disorder and service connection for hypertension secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder were denied. The claims of reopening service connection for a cerebral concussion and right ear injury residuals are also pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to PTSD. The medical opinion from Dr. A.H., who is the veteran's treating physician since 1994, concluded that the veteran's hypertension was very likely precipitated or caused by his service-connected PTSD.

Both the claim for residuals of a cyst excision of the right arm and the claim for hypertension were denied by the RO in September 1991 due to lack of supporting medical evidence. The veteran did not appeal either decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to asbestos exposure, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his claim of shrapnel wounds to the face. The VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding the etiology of any of the veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing between October 16 and May 15, 2005.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability or disease incurred in line of duty during active military service. The appellant did not meet the criteria for payment of VA burial benefits.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and hypertension, finding that there was no credible evidence of the claimed in-service stressors. The hypertension was not shown to be related to service.