Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The veteran's hypertension is not rated higher than zero percent, and his tinnitus has the maximum schedular rating of ten percent. The Board finds no legal basis for a separate evaluation for each ear.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew it.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the veteran's fatal conditions were not due to any disability incurred in service, or manifest within a year of his recognized service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for the cause of death and nonservice-connected death pension benefits are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hypertension and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, finding no evidence of a nexus between the two conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension, heart attack, and stroke are not related to his active duty service or any service-connected disability. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's disabilities, including his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine conditions and non-service-connected left hand injury with amputation, do not preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's service-connected hypertension, manifested primarily by systolic readings below 160 and diastolic readings of 90 or less, was granted a compensable rating from August 7, 2001 through March 31, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for nerve damage, left ulnar neuropathy, anxiety, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II, as these conditions are not shown to be related to the veteran's active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA treatment records and private physician's records, as well as a VA examination if evidence of hypertension during service is found.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his gunshot wound residuals and COPD, contributed to cause or hastened his death.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed disability of a knot of the chest or hypertension as a result of VA lung surgery. The claim was denied because there is no competent medical evidence showing that the proximate cause of these conditions was carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on VA's part.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and examinations to assess the veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was aggravated during his second period of active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and secondary service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted sufficient to reopen the previously-denied claim. The Board also determined that there is no medical nexus between the veteran's diagnosed hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current chronic low back disorder, COPD, or hypertension that is due to any incident or event in military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected hypertension, finding that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it manifested within one year of the veteran's separation from active duty.