Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The VA has denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition with his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to June 2006, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his active service or service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that diabetes mellitus did not aggravate hypertension.

The veteran's hypertension is not service connected.,The veteran does not have a current disability from hearing loss.,The veteran has been granted an initial compensable rating for hiatal hernia with reflux.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations. The issues of special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ, initial rating in excess of 10 percent for Type II diabetes mellitus, and an initial compensable rating for hypertension are currently before the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it was incurred during the veteran's active duty for training in June to August 2003. The issues of bilateral elbow and foot sesamoiditis are remanded for further examination and development.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of a VA examiner's opinion regarding the onset and progression of the veteran's hypertension during his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder disability, finding no evidence to support the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, urinary disorder (including prostate disorder), vision disorder (including cataracts), and arthritis of both hands. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD, headaches, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The VA examiner stated that the in-service blood pressure readings signify hypertension by modern standards, and a private physician indicated treatment for hypertension in 1958. Therefore, the claim is granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, CAD, and onychomycosis and tinea pedis was granted with an initial disability rating of 30 percent effective August 9, 2004. The effective date for the grant of secondary service connection for onychomycosis and tinea pedis is March 30, 2001.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The claims will be returned to the Board once this is done.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and burial benefits due to lack of evidence showing a causal link between any service-connected condition and the veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, facial scars, and headaches. The combined evaluation of these conditions is at 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a direct connection to active duty or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), was not service-connected. The appellant did not have qualifying service and thus is not eligible for accrued benefits.