Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding that new evidence did not warrant reopening of his claims for right ankle disorder or costochondritis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and Parkinsonism as there is no competent medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of these conditions or that they are related to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, heart disability including coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, and peripheral neuropathy (ulnar mononeuropathy) were all denied. The evidence did not show that any of these conditions started during or were otherwise related to the veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran had a pending claim for service connection at the time of his death, allowing the appellant to receive accrued benefits. The cause of death was attributed to scleroderma, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and gastrointestinal disorder are not related to his service or any service-connected disability, leading to a denial of both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Board found that the veteran did not meet the legal criteria for recognition as a former prisoner of war (POW) and denied all service connection claims due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions is 80 percent, and the VA examiner concluded that he is capable of sedentary employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board denied TDIU as the veteran is not precluded from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current service-connected hypertension or CVA. The evidence shows no complaints of hypertension during service and no diagnosis until many years after separation. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after his military service. The Board also found that the veteran did not have any exposure to ionizing radiation and that he could not establish a nexus between his current hypertension and his military service.

The veteran had service-connected PTSD and died from a combination of alcoholism, PTSD, and other conditions. The Board finds that the cause of death is service connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin cancer, hypertension, paresthesia of fingers/toes, renal artery atherosclerotic disease, CAD, and erectile dysfunction are not service-connected or secondary to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for post-operative residuals, patellectomy, left knee. However, the veteran's hypertension, left hip disability, right hip disability, osteoporosis and/or arthritis of all joints, and lower spine disability are not shown to be causally linked to any event or incident of his period of active service or a service-connected disability.

The VA Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for circulatory and vascular conditions, including hypertension, as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's current hypertension did not begin during service and is not related to his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension for aid and attendance and housebound status due to her inability to meet the criteria for such benefits, as she is not in need of regular aid and assistance or substantially confined to her home.

The Board finds a preponderance of the evidence against the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and hypertension. These conditions were not incurred or linked to service in any way.

The Board found no evidence of PTSD or hypertension due to service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for fractures of the right big and second toes, hypertension, and gastrectomy for peptic ulcer disease. The evidence did not show any such conditions during or after service.