Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left wrist scaphoid fracture, hypertension, and tongue laceration with complex surgical repair do not warrant an initial compensable evaluation at any time since their effective dates.

The Board found that the veteran's heart condition, hypertension with dissection aortic aneurysm from aortic root to iliac vessels, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be linked to his service-connected syphilis. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, cervical sprain, appendectomy scar, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine (now termed), tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and anxiety reaction. The RO previously denied these petitions in April 1997 and April 2002 without reopening them.

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disease and hypertension are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied both claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, hypertension, allergic rhinitis, prostate enlargement, depression, and poor circulation in the left leg, all allegedly due to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his time in service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for increased compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of the veteran's wife, thus denying the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disease (including hypertension and coronary artery disease) and residuals of a right hip injury, to include arthritis. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his blood pressure readings have consistently been below the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cerebrovascular accident, heart disorder, and hypertension are not related to service or any service-connected conditions. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board granted the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for seborrheic dermatitis since October 22, 2005 and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder. The hypertension claim was granted on a secondary basis to his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board found that the veteran's current hypertension is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against granting service connection for type II diabetes mellitus due to lack of exposure to Agent Orange during service. The veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, hemorrhoids, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and impingement syndrome with history of tendonitis of the left shoulder are currently rated as 10 percent each.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and residuals of recurrent cerebrovascular accident are related to service-connected conditions, specifically PTSD. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship to military service or any service-connected disorder.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for post-operative pericardiectomy and denied an increased rating for hypertension.

The Board has decided that the case should be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's PTSD has caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, low back disorder, and PTSD. The decision found that hypertension pre-existed service and was not aggravated during service, while a low back disorder is not shown to be related to service. Service connection for PTSD was also denied due to lack of corroborated stressor events.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence supporting a causal relationship between the two conditions.

The RO denied service connection for depression, hypertension, arthritis and asbestos exposure. The veteran is requesting a Board hearing to appeal these decisions.