Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hypertension attributable to military service and finds no evidence of a nexus between PTSD and hypertension. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but there is no basis for an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a right shoulder disability, an eye disability manifested by diplopia, and a chronic upper gastrointestinal disability (to include GERD). The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for hypertension, reopening of his eye disease and bursitis of both arms claims were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or new and material evidence was not provided.

The veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his severe degenerative joint disease of the knees, morbid obesity, hypertension, and prostate cancer has been granted. The veteran is also entitled to special monthly pension by reason of being housebound as he requires assistance in exiting and entering his dwelling or moving within it.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and a rash of the feet, groin, chest, and neck were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating for the period prior to January 29, 2003.,The veteran's hypertension is currently noncompensable and the medical evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a nonunion fracture of the right medial malleolus due to new and material evidence. The veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by active military service, warranting service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records related to the veteran's hypertension and perineal hydradenitis.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not related to his diabetes mellitus. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The AMC must provide proper notification and obtain VA outpatient clinic records from Jacksonville, Florida.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including leg and back pain, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, alcohol abuse-induced liver disease, PTSD, hearing loss, and attempted suicide. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by, or hastened by, VA care and treatment. The appellant's claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and therefore denied the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection of hypertension was granted. He is also awarded an increased disability rating of 10% for chronic low back strain and a 20% disability rating for residuals of a right shoulder injury, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and determined that it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of hypertension, cervical spine disability, or lumbar spine disability that is related to his military service. The VA examiner opined that these disabilities are more likely due to post-service factors and there was no evidence linking them to service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected chronic right obliterative pleurisy did not cause or contribute to his death from aspiration pneumonia, altered mental state, and other underlying conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hypertension to service and concluding he is not unemployable by reason of his nonservice-connected disability.

The veteran's hypertension and gastritis have been rated as noncompensable throughout the rating period on appeal.,Service connection for a neck disorder has not been established.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of need for regular aid and attendance has been granted due to his multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, including COPD with sleep apnea, major depressive disorder, lumbar stenosis, diabetes mellitus (type II), and hypertension. The Board found that the veteran requires daily assistance in performing certain activities.