Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not directly related to his period of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's widow is not found to be in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound due to her disabilities, thus denying the special monthly pension.

The Board denied secondary service connection for hypertension and granted a 30% evaluation for the veteran's left knee disability, effective from March 2, 2005.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have any additional disability caused by VA medical treatment, including the administration of medications.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and hypothermia were not incurred in service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange or other environmental factors. The evidence did not show a diagnosis of either condition until after separation from active duty.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for her right thumb fracture and right knee arthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively. The decision also noted that hypertension was service-connected but did not provide an evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension does not warrant a compensable rating, as his blood pressure readings did not consistently meet the criteria for such. The lung disorder issue remains pending and will be addressed further.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current heart, diabetes, and hypertension conditions and his military service. The residuals from his abdominal surgery in 1996 are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and therefore denied service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings, educational assistance benefits, and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status are being remanded due to incomplete examinations.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have PTSD and denied all other service connection claims. The reasons for denial are provided in the decision summary.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he has a post-graduate degree and previous work experience as a dentist.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and prostate cancer. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, heart attack, and stroke secondary to PTSD. The claim of reopening the hypertension was also denied due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension, do not render him unemployable for all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and his hypertension did not manifest within one year of separation from service. Therefore, both conditions are denied.

The Board has been notified of the appellant's request to withdraw their appeal, leading to its dismissal.

The Board has denied the veteran's request for an increased evaluation for his service-connected hypertension and heart murmur, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension is unrelated to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service connection award due to clear and unmistakable error in a March 1985 rating decision. The claim was reopened based on new evidence, but no earlier effective date is granted.