Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The veteran seeks a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, but the RO did not consider all relevant evidence and needs to obtain additional medical records before proceeding with the claim.

The veteran's claim for specially adapted housing assistance or a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues, and no new rating or effective date is provided.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to missing service medical records and a need for new VCAA compliant notice.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the unspecified 'rash' was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, chronic essential hypertension was not shown to have been present in service or thereafter, and PTSD did not meet criteria for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the evidence does not show a diagnosis of hypertension during service or within one year after discharge, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the relationship between the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and his diagnosed hypertension.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, but denied a higher rating for hypertension.

The veteran's hypertension, stroke, bilateral hearing loss disability, and left leg injury are all found to be related to service. The veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis, hypertension, and psychiatric disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in active service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death, an acute myocardial infarction with hypertension and pneumonia as contributing factors, was not related to his military service. The VA cardiologist's opinion is given more weight than Dr. McA.'s death certificate in this regard.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his coronary artery disease and bilateral nephrolithiasis with severe right hydronephrosis and arterial hypertension, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support an increased rating or TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his multiple disabilities, including chronic low back pain, cerebrovascular accident, seizures, high blood pressure, diverticulosis of the colon, glaucoma, cataracts, prostate cancer, arthritis, renal lithiasis, and myocardial infarcts. The decision is based on the veteran's need for regular aid and assistance due to his disabilities.

The veteran seeks service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the hypertension is aggravated by the diabetes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bursitis of the right elbow, intraocular hypertension with headaches and blurred vision, bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral ankle disorder, and arthritis of multiple joints (excluding cervical and lumbar spine segments).

The Board has determined that the appellant's flatfeet and hypertension are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during his period of active duty for training, nor due to an injury sustained during inactive duty for training. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than November 19, 2003, for a 10 percent rating for sinusitis is granted. His other claims are either denied or continue to be pending based on the evidence currently available.