Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, finding no competent evidence of a current disability related to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, diabetes mellitus, Type II as secondary to PTSD and stomach disorders, and osteoarthritis of the right hip, status post total arthroplasty due to cold injury. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has ordered the VA to search for and obtain the veteran's inpatient records from Panama where he was treated for heat stroke. The case will be remanded for further review after this information is obtained.

The Board found no evidence supporting the appellant's claim that his hepatitis C infection was caused by military service, and denied all secondary service connection claims due to lack of competent medical evidence linking any claimed disorders to the hepatitis.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a kidney condition as secondary to hypertension, finding that the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial for service connection for hypertension as secondary to post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension or peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and there is no evidence to support service connection for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The Board denied both claims.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and hypertension. The vagus valve nerve disorder claim is remanded due to missing service medical records.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for depression, reopened claims for service connection for various conditions including irritable bowel syndrome and bilateral polyneuropathy of the legs, and denied other issues.

The veteran's hypertension and cardiovascular disease have been rated, but the lumbar spine disorder remains under review.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin rash and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for polycystic kidney disease, hypertension, and chronic renal insufficiency with albuminuria due to lack of current diagnoses with respect to a chronic skin rash.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left ankle conditions, as well as an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension. The veteran's current disabilities were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service or due to a service-connected disorder, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, finding no evidence of a nexus to the veteran's military service or service-connected condition.

The veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had service-connected disabilities that were rated as totally disabling for a continuous period of at least one year immediately preceding his death. However, the claim is denied because the veteran did not meet the requirement of having been continuously rated totally disabled by VA for 10 years or more immediately preceding his death.

The veteran is granted a 100 percent rating for his service-connected hypertensive heart disease since March 3, 1994.