Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's service-connected hypertension has not been manifested by blood pressure readings of diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more. Therefore, the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, and no current disability is shown.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death (cardiac arrhythmia, sinus tachycardia, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, and ulcerative colitis) is not etiologically related to service or a service-connected condition.

The veteran's pension benefits were granted effective October [redacted], 2007, with payments starting on November 1, 2007. However, the claim for an earlier effective date is denied as entitlement arose when the veteran reached age 65 in October [redacted], 2007.

The Board has received additional evidence and requests that the RO review this evidence before making a decision on the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the issues of hypertension and arthritis for further development. The status of hypertension is unknown, while the arthritis issue requires additional medical examination to determine if it is related to service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting withdrawal of his claims.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C, depression, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death. The claim was denied on the merits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for valvular heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral hands and feet, and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and hypothyroidism. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The veteran's claims for higher initial ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and evaluations, as well as compliance with the Veterans' Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the May 2005 denial of service connection for hypertension is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's request to reopen his claim.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for SMP based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to metastatic lung cancer, finding that it was not related to his service-connected mental deficiency without psychosis and did not result from tobacco use in service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a relationship between the veteran's current hypertension and heart disease, including as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.