Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 30 percent, and there is no evidence of congestive heart failure or other factors warranting a higher rating. The claim for an increased evaluation for coronary artery disease is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter, nor is it otherwise causally related to his active duty service. The claim of service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, secondary to PTSD, and for a TDIU.

The veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension were evaluated by the Board. The increased rating for PTSD was denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation. The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated noncompensable due to lack of evidence from a state-licensed audiologist. His initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, anxiety disorder, and depression have all been denied. The claim for PTSD has not been addressed in this decision.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic blindness and hypertension are denied. The claim to reopen his diabetes mellitus is granted, but he does not meet the criteria for a separate rating of 30 percent for hypertensive heart disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's son, T., was permanently incapable of self-support prior to his 18th birthday for purposes of accrued benefits and benefits due and payable subsequent to the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to the need for additional development and consideration of his service connection claims.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) medical records related to his SSA disability benefits application.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the claimant.

The veteran is entitled to payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Silliman University Medical Center from September 13, 1998, to September 16, 1998. The other issues were denied.

The Board has received a withdrawal of the appeal from the appellant, thus dismissing the case.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hypertension is related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a deviated nasal septum and hypertension, finding no evidence of these conditions during or after service.

The veteran's service-connected idiopathic portal hypertension with history of variceal hemorrhage is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted based on her symptoms and treatment response.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the June 2002 denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for hypertension.

The veteran's hypertension and PTSD claims are pending, with the hypertension claim remaining in appellate status. The RO should schedule a personal hearing for the veteran to address both claims.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for hypertension and did not find new evidence to support a grant of service connection. The issue of asbestosis was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent or noncompensable for either condition.