Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board found no evidence of hypertension in service or for many years thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current condition is not related to his period of active service. The claim was denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted it. The veteran is now entitled to a disability rating based on this condition.,The veteran's hypertension was denied as his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The veteran's service connection claims for chronic headaches, left knee disability, Grave's disease, hypertension, and bilateral pes planus with right hallux deformity were granted. The initial ratings assigned are 20 percent for the left knee, 10 percent for Graves' disease, no rating for hypertension (as it is controlled by medication), and a compensable rating for bilateral pes planus and right hallux valgus.

The veteran's fractured right 5th metacarpal is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.,The veteran's right herniorrhaphy residuals are not service-connected and do not warrant a compensable rating.,Heart disability (presumed coronary artery disease) was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, nor may such incurrence or aggravation be presumed.,Hypertension was not present within a year of service discharge and is not etiologically related to service.,A respiratory disorder was not present in service and is not etiologically related to service.

The veteran is entitled to special mode transportation due to his service-connected disabilities and medical necessity.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a direct relationship between the veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension, and his service. The veteran was exposed to Triocytel Phosphate during Project SHAD but there are no medical records indicating any connection to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cardiopulmonary disability, including atrial fibrillation and hypertension, is not service-connected as it did not have its onset during his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board also found that the cardiovascular disability is not proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of fatigue or any other claimed conditions related to service, and thus cannot establish service connection for these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing VA clinical records from the Montgomery, Alabama facility. The claims will be reconsidered based on a review of all available evidence.

The veteran's low back fusion with instrumentation is rated at 60 percent, and his hypertension with nephrosclerosis since June 13, 2003 is also rated at 60 percent. The veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either set of criteria.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his hypertension. The veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension and specifically address whether it was caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking the fatal cardiac arrest and essential hypertension to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions regarding PTSD, potential need for additional evidence from SSA, and incomplete notification of the claimant.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of review of service medical records and other procedural issues.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease secondary to hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and hearing loss disability, but denied service connection for acne/cyst condition (claimed as chloracne).

The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable prior to November 16, 2004 that the veteran was permanently and totally disabled due to his service-connected conditions. Therefore, the effective date for non-service-connected disability pension cannot be earlier than November 16, 2004.