Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and denied entitlement to initial compensable ratings for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities.

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

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is not causally related to or chronically worsened by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during his military service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for myositis of the right hand. The veteran's hypertension was incurred in service, while his right hand myositis is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board found that the appellant does not meet the criteria for entitlement to special monthly pension by reason of need for regular aid and attendance due to her lack of physical or mental incapacity requiring care on a regular basis.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were granted. The right foot injury residuals and DDD of the lumbar spine are rated at their maximum allowable levels.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred during service or due to a service-connected disability.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for a rating in excess of 20 percent for hypertension and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left eye injury. As all claims were withdrawn, the appeal is dismissed.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension on account of being housebound or needing the aid and attendance of another person was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied, but he received an initial increased rating of 20% for his herniated disc of the thoracolumbar spine with bilateral chronic sacroiliitis as of December 28, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for proper VCAA notice and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of service connection for cause of the veteran's death due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no evidence showing that a disability incurred in or aggravated by service caused or contributed significantly to the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, which is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, does not warrant a higher evaluation due to the blood pressure readings predominantly falling within the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation.

The veteran's death was caused by renal failure, but his service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to the cause of death. The appellant is also denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he did not meet the criteria for receiving such benefits.