Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, arthritis, and sinusitis as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service discharge. The Board found that any relationship to service was speculative.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or at the housebound rate.

The veteran is seeking service connection for heart disease, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for clarification of a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's heart disease and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claims for hypertension and a left eye disorder are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for lumbar paravertebral myositis with small disk protrusion, effective from August 12, 1997. The veteran's hypertension and PTSD remain rated at their current levels.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a back disability or hypertension, as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during service and no showing of continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during service, are not proximately due to a service-connected disability, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, was caused by or contributed to his death. The appellant is also eligible for DEA under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or as a result of military service, to include as proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, do not render him unemployable. The evidence does not indicate he is incapable of substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions (hypertension, right shoulder, bilateral calluses).

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and associated peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as his service connection claims. The effective date issue is also being remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for anorexia, a right shoulder disability, a back disability, a heart disability, hypertension, and sinusitis. The decision found that there was no evidence of chronic anorexia during service and no current diagnosis of an eating disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for chloracne due to presumed in-service herbicide exposure, but denied service connection for hypertension and a respiratory disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, hypertension, and psoriasis. The RO later denied reopening these claims on the basis that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice and issues are intertwined with service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound was denied as he is not legally blind, bedridden, or unable to perform daily activities without assistance.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further action, including a new VA examination and proper VCAA notice.

The veteran's claims for service connection for transient ischemic attacks and hypertension, as well as an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of permanent disability from the transient attacks or a clear link between hypertension and diabetes.

The veteran's hypertension was rated at 20 percent prior to September 7, 1995.,From September 7, 1995 to January 11, 1998, the veteran was assigned a 60 percent rating for hypertensive atherosclerotic heart disease due to organic heart disease.,Since January 11, 1998, the veteran has been rated at 100 percent for chronic congestive heart failure.