Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and found that new evidence supports this. The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes.

The veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evaluations and records, as well as VCAA compliance.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have asbestosis, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The claims of secondary service connection for hypertension and heart disease are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for arterial hypertension as there was no evidence of a current disability and the veteran did not have diastolic blood pressure predominantly 90 mm. or greater within one year post-service.,The Board denied service connection for disease of the lumbar spine with radiculitis of the lower extremities (claimed as numbness of the right leg) as there was no evidence that the condition is related to service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of his hypertension claim were denied. His left wrist synovitis was rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence of limitation of motion or clinically significant functional impairment due to pain.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, acquired vision impairment, and a skin rash, including as secondary to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of death and for dependent's educational benefits were denied.

The Board has granted increased ratings for gouty arthritis, diabetes mellitus, right wrist disability, and appendectomy scar. The veteran's pancreatitis is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and its incurrence or aggravation during such service may not be presumed.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence of hepatitis B or hypertension being related to service. The veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The initial compensable rating claim was also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for hypertension, a skin disorder, and Hepatitis C. The Board also found that there was no new and material evidence to reopen his claim for a psychiatric disorder.

The veteran's hypertension and kidney disease are not service-connected, as they pre-existed her military service. The September 1997 pancreatitis episode did not cause or aggravate these conditions.,VA compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for the veteran's hypertension and kidney disease is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and hyperlipidemia, finding no evidence of a link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for reduction in his hypertension rating and for an increased evaluation, as well as his claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran was found not to meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and providing notice of the type of evidence needed to establish a disability rating and an effective date in the event that service connection is granted or benefits are awarded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities were denied. The initial disability evaluation for non-obstructive coronary artery disease with hypertension and history of PVC's was granted at 30 percent, but the veteran is seeking a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's erectile dysfunction is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability, specifically diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and/or hypertension. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.