Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and assigned an initial 40 percent rating for hepatitis C. The ratings for right and left knee disabilities remain unchanged.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is not related to his service, and thus denied this claim. The claims for service connection for multiple brain lesions and headaches, as well as chloracne, are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a travel board hearing at the San Juan Regional Office.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of low back disorder, service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and stomach condition were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating or service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound. The spouse does not qualify for SMC based on her own disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a kidney disability, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. However, it denied his claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and deferred consideration of his petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a kidney disability until completion of further development.

The Board has determined that further development is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, nor may it be presumed to be incurred in or aggravated by such service. The Board also found no evidence of a link between the veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the highest rating of 50% for migraines and 20% for right leg stress fracture with arthralgia from September 8, 2003 onwards. The claim for hypertension was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acne, an ingrown toenail on the left great toe, tinnitus, a left knee disability, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and bilateral hearing loss. The reasons given include lack of current evidence of these conditions.

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

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection. The initial increased rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae is addressed in a separate REMAND portion of this decision.

The veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, hypertension and bilateral vision problems are not service-connected, arthritis of the lumbar spine, right ankle disorder, and right shoulder disorder are granted with a 30 percent rating each. Dermatitis was denied.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The veteran's hypertension, varicose veins of the left leg, and coronary artery disease are all found to be service-connected. The veteran's coronary artery disease is secondary to his hypertension.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and kidney disorder (manifested by renal failure) as these conditions are not shown to be related to service. Service connection is granted for a low back disability.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's hypertension, including whether it is related to his military service or diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for updated medical examinations and compliance with notification provisions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, finding that no evidence supports a direct link to service and rejecting secondary service connection based on diabetes mellitus.