Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, heart condition, and hypertension have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions or a link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and did not reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension and vertigo due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with a hiatal hernia, and hemorrhoids are all found to have been incurred in or developed during periods of active service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the relationship between the veteran's hypertension and PTSD, as well as any current right hand scars. The case will be returned for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current hearing loss, tinnitus, anemia, sinusitis and strep throat, hypertension, or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). The claim for chronic nerve and joint pain is granted. No service connection is established for CFS.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to pancreatitis and/or high blood pressure, which were not present during service or manifested within one year after service. The Board also found that the veteran was not detained as a prisoner of war, so POW presumptions do not apply.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding medical records and need for a more contemporaneous examination of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disorder and hypertension are not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, right hand tremor, breathing problems, a cyst on the spine, hypertension, left leg neuropathy, anxiety and depression, heart condition with bundle branch block, and degenerative arthritis of the back.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not render him helpless or housebound, and thus he is not entitled to special monthly pension based on aid and attendance/housebound status.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and determined that it was aggravated during military service. The veteran is now entitled to a 10 percent disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance, as his conditions are manageable with assistance from family members.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's gastrointestinal disability and organic heart disorder (including hypertension) are not related to service or a service-connected condition, including PTSD. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if current diabetes mellitus is related to service and for evaluations of hypertension and Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee.

The veteran's single permanent disability (schizophrenic reaction) is rated at 100%. His other disabilities, when combined, are rated at 60%, which does not meet the requirement for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound rate.

The veteran's hypertension and PTSD were granted service connection, with the hypertension receiving a 10 percent evaluation initially and an increased to 30 percent effective September 2002. The initial evaluation for PTSD was denied, but it received a 30 percent evaluation effective September 2002.

The veteran was found to be unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities as of November 13, 2000, and the effective date for TDIU is set at August 13, 2001.