Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his in-service hypertension, which is considered a direct service connection. The Board granted the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's nonservice-connected hypertension is increased in severity by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this degree of increased hypertension.

The veteran's headaches are attributable to Gulf War service and he is granted service connection for them. His essential hypertension, which became manifest during his Southwest Asia theater of operations, is also granted at a 10% evaluation.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision found no evidence of in-service hypertension or diabetes, and that there was insufficient medical nexus to support a claim based on exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for verification of National Guard service, medical records from Dr. B., and personnel records.

The veteran's service did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits due to less than 90 days of active duty during a period of war and no service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbite/cold injuries of the feet and hands, gout, and hypertension. The claim for diabetes mellitus is denied as it cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicides in Korea.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding no competent evidence of its occurrence in service or a link to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and hypertension, as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link between these conditions and the veteran's active service.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20% for DM, finding that the veteran's condition required insulin and a restricted diet but was not solely responsible for limiting his activities due to significant non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to disease, injury, or event of service origin. The Board also found that current hypertension is not causally related to or made worse by the veteran's service-connected mood disorder.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of hypertension, post-operative residuals of benign prostatic hypertrophy, allergic rhinitis, and thrombophlebitis were denied. The preponderance of the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable criteria.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service stressor for PTSD. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a permanent and total rating for nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed musculoskeletal chest pain, hypertension, and coronary artery disease disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claims are therefore denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the RO level.