Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his history of cardiomegaly with labile hypertension, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to the veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, and has assigned a 50 percent rating for the anxiety disorder. The claims of increased ratings for pes planus and anxiety disorder have been granted. The claims of reopening service connection for low back and neck disabilities as secondary to pes planus are also granted.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinusitis, PTSD, and hypertension. The veteran's claim of service connection for sinusitis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for PTSD could not be established as there were no verified in-service stressors. Hypertension was also not found to have been incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including hypertension, flat feet, headaches, left eye conjunctivitis, and maxilla disability, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The RO has granted an increased rating for psoriasis of the scalp and denied other claims. The case is being remanded to ensure proper representation.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for pyelonephritis with mild hypertension and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and tender scar, right lower quadrant, residual of surgical exploration of pelvic mass associated with stricture of ureter, hydronephrosis and hydroureter, were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, which caused his stroke and death, was service-connected. As a result, the cause of death is now considered to be related to service.

The Board found that the cause of death (escherichia coli septic shock) was not service-connected, and thus denied burial benefits.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is less likely related to his service-connected PTSD or within one year of discharge.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chemical burns to the face, venereal disease, cervical spine disability, trauma to the testicles, hypertension, sinusitis, and bilateral plantar heel disabilities.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for Raynaud's syndrome, hypertension, and disfigurement of the head were denied. The RO granted service connection for disfigurement of the head but did not assign a compensable rating prior to August 30, 2002, or since that date.

The veteran's initial ratings for coronary artery disease and hypertension have been granted, with the coronary artery disease receiving a 30% rating from December 9, 1997 to August 24, 2001; a 60% rating from August 25, 2001 to July 18, 2004; and hypertension receiving a 10% rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his medical records and consideration of his claims, including the need to determine if separate ratings are more advantageous.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his diastolic pressures have predominantly been less than 100 and systolic pressures have predominantly been less than 160. As such, a noncompensable rating is denied.

The VA determined that the veteran does not currently have hypertension and denied his claim for service connection, finding no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for depression, hypertension, arthritis of the shoulders, and a respiratory disorder (COPD). However, the preponderance of evidence does not support these claims as they were not present in service or are not related to military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, accrued benefits, and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35 due to a lack of evidence linking any conditions causing the veteran's death to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no competent medical evidence of current hypertension and noting that the condition did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from military service.