Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and hypertension, as well as an increased evaluation for his left knee sprain. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected hypertensive arteriosclerotic heart disease and a temporary total evaluation following prostate surgery is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for pes planus, hypertension, a heart disorder, or a right knee disorder. The claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, heart attack, and stroke due to incomplete examination findings and need for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO granted initial 10 percent disability ratings for residual scar, right elbow injury with bone spur, and left elbow injury with bone spur based on the criteria for limitation of motion due to benign new growths (Diagnostic Code 5015). No compensable rating was assigned for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was incurred during his second period of active duty service and is granted service connection. The right ankle disability is not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's PTSD was initially rated at 10 percent and later increased to 30 percent effective March 1, 2006. His right shoulder disability remained at a noncompensable rating until June 13, 2006, when it was assigned a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, polymyositis, and a left eye disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding no medical evidence suggesting a relationship to service or service-connected PTSD. The claim for an increased rating for pilonidal cyst with post-operative scarring was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis as it was first manifested within one year of the veteran's separation from active duty.

The veteran's claims for PTSD and hypertension are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional information from Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disorder and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by active military service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. The Board also found that there is no evidence of a need for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a back disorder, and a skin disorder other than tinea cruris. The claim for an increased evaluation for tinea cruris was also denied.

The veteran's right knee disorder and hypertension were granted, but the rating for the right knee disorder was limited to 30 percent with arthritis rated separately. The hypertension was initially noncompensable prior to April 6, 2004, and then rated at 10 percent as of that date.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hyperopic astigmatism of both eyes as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II, with neuropathy is rated at 20% and his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right wrist with periostitis and ulnar impingement is rated at 10%. The other claims for increased ratings are denied. Service connection for hypertension remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying stressors and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's PTSD is related to his service aboard the USS Mansfield during hostile fire.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death from pancreatic cancer. The Board also determined there was no evidence of VA negligence in diagnosing or treating the veteran.

The veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted for PTSD due to lack of a verified inservice stressor.