Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board granted a rating of 10 percent for the service-connected hypertension, effective from August 10, 2005.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues include service connection for schizophrenia, increased evaluations for pes planus of both feet, and an increased evaluation for hypertension.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for high cholesterol, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability (undiagnosed), genitourinary disability (undiagnosed), and skin disability (undiagnosed) to include as an undiagnosed illness due to a failure to file a timely substantive appeal.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to her disabilities not meeting the criteria for such benefits.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a left eye disability that developed and worsened as a result of his service-connected right eye disability. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion on the relationship between the veteran's left eye disorders and his service-connected right eye disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. Reed and Letterman Army Medical Center.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and residuals of lipoma excision due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. However, a new VA examination must be conducted to determine if the veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of both feet, and hypertension are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease with hypertension warrants a disability rating of 60 percent, effective from when his claim was filed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension secondary to PTSD, heart disease secondary to PTSD, and alcoholism secondary to PTSD. The VA examinations did not support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for post-operative residuals of a right knee injury was denied. The current disability rating remains at 20 percent, effective from the date of the March 2003 decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's hypertension and hypertensive cardiovascular disease are related to his period of active service.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claims for service connection for an eye condition, hypertension (including as secondary to PTSD), bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, but denied service connection for hypertension as it is not shown to be related to the veteran's time in service.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of November 12, 2002 for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The decision stated that there was no pending claim prior to November 12, 2003, and thus the earliest legal basis for granting service connection is one year prior to that date.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for COPD, varicose veins with edema and discoloration of the ankles and feet, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.