Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board found no evidence of hypertension during service or within the presumptive period, and concluded that there is not a link between current hypertension and service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the veteran's hypertension was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as the evidence did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and there was no credible supporting evidence that the claimed stressors actually occurred.

The evidence does not support the claim that the veteran's current cervical spine, upper extremity, low back, lower extremity, or hypertension disabilities are caused by the July 1989 anterior fusion at C4-C5 performed at a VA medical facility in Temple, Texas.

The veteran is seeking service connection for heart disease, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case has been remanded due to the need for clarification of whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravates or worsens the veteran's heart disease.

The veteran's hypertension is not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. Therefore, a compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to coronary artery disease, which was not found to be related to his military service. The DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied as there was no evidence showing that the veteran would have been entitled to a 100% rating for at least ten years prior to his death.

The veteran's combined disability rating of 40 percent does not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence does not support referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, low back disability, prostate disability, residuals of burn scars on the back and left arm, status post fracture of distal phalanx of the left great toe, and a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and tinea pedis. The issues of increased ratings for hypertension and service connection for residuals of a left ankle injury are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, and cardiac arrhythmia secondary to hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, or residuals of a cerebrovascular accident. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder have been denied as there is no clinical medical evidence of record linking these conditions to his active service.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of need for regular aid and attendance was denied as he does not meet the criteria for such benefits based on his inability to perform daily activities without assistance.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected hypertension, as the medical evidence did not show that his diastolic pressure readings were predominantly 120 or more.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension or bilateral hearing loss, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied.,Service-connected conditions include lumbosacral strain, chondromalacia of the right and left knees, headaches, hypertension, conjunctivitis, COPD, perirectal abscess, right foot calluses, rhinitis/sinusitis, bilateral flat feet, sleep disorder, hearing loss, ankle condition, wrist condition, shin splints, positive TB test, hyperlipidemia, and left foot tendonitis.

The veteran's claims for service connection and higher initial evaluations were denied. The veteran was granted a compensable evaluation for amputation of the distal phalanx of the left middle finger.

The veteran's service-connected hypertension was found to not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and his claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD, but denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,The veteran's hypertension is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and bilateral pes planus as there was no evidence of these conditions during or after service. The veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of a current disability and insufficient medical evidence linking his claimed conditions to service.