Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, finding that both conditions are related to the veteran's active duty service. The increased evaluation claim remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and skin rashes as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also found that the veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, migraine headaches, and hypertension. The forehead scar was rated but not granted a compensable rating.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension during service or within one year after discharge, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence diagnosing the veteran's claimed conditions until years after his separation from active duty. The preponderance of the competent medical evidence is against a finding that any of these conditions are causally related to his period of active duty.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's hypertension, low back disability, or residuals of injury to the mandible were incurred in service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disability warrants a rating of 60 percent, but no higher. The hypertension issue is also addressed and a 60 percent evaluation is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to his service.

The Board found that the veteran did not have hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, or tinnitus during service or within one year of separation. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service medical records and other relevant documents.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tinnitus, degenerative changes consistent with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis or gout of the left wrist, peripheral neuropathy affecting multiple extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for hypertension and his claim for a TDIU. The veteran's hypertension is not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, and it is controlled through continuous use of prescribed medication. However, the Board has found that he is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's death was caused by a hemorrhagic infarct of the brain, which is not service-connected. The issues related to hypertension and cerebrovascular accident are also not service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, tinnitus, and residuals of toe fractures. The claims for higher initial ratings for knee disabilities (left knee status-post meniscectomy with chondromalacia of the patella, right knee strain with chondromalacia of the patella) and ankle sprains were also denied. The claim for a compensable initial evaluation for hypertension was not addressed as it is not related to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether hypertension is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The veteran needs to undergo a VA examination and provide any additional evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted a 30 percent initial disability rating. The veteran's hypertension is presumed to have been incurred in active military service.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking his cardiovascular issues, renal failure, and hypertension to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, finding that these conditions are not related to his diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service and is not related to his service-connected nephrolithiasis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and kidney disorder as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.