Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hypertension, alopecia, a bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for separate schedular ratings for bilateral tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues of service connection for left knee internal derangement and hypertension. The veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, ED or diabetic retinopathy. The VA medical examinations and private physician's notes do not establish a causal connection between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and any of these conditions. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned to the RO for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the veteran's employability.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for bursitis of the left elbow. The veteran's hypertension was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service, as it was first noted many years after discharge. For his left elbow disability, the evidence did not show sufficient functional loss or impairment to warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension, which developed as a result of VA steroid treatment in June to October 1996, resolved shortly thereafter. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of current hypertension or any causal connection between the veteran's VA medical treatment and her current health conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and impotence were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, thus denying both secondary service connection claims.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, warranting secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, blurred vision, major depressive disorder, hypertension, onychomycosis of the toenails, memory loss, and hair loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and right knee disability do not warrant increased ratings, while his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board found that the appellant's decreased vision does not meet the VA standards for aid and attendance, as his visual acuity is not 5/200 or less in both eyes. The appellant was also not legally blind based on corrected vision measurements provided by medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee, a right knee disorder, and major depression, are not related to his service-connected low back disability. Therefore, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for diabetes mellitus type II or hypertension. The claims are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and myasthenia gravis, finding that there was no direct or secondary relationship to his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease with myocardial infarction, history of percarditis and hypertension is being remanded due to changes in VA regulations regarding former prisoners of war.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there is no medical evidence linking the cause of death to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 30 percent or 10 percent under applicable VA rating criteria.