Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart problems, both secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a heart condition, acquired mental disorders, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection for his bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing such disability within one year after discharge from service. Service connection was also denied for hypertension as new and material evidence had not been received sufficient to reopen the claim, and diabetes was not related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran is not entitled to specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant because his lower extremity disability is due to nonservice-connected conditions and he does not meet the criteria for loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Veteran's initial rating for nephritic syndrome with hypertension has been denied, as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), diabetic retinopathy, a kidney condition, and diabetic ulcers, all conditions to include as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and granted it, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted to support the claim. The Board also found that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension had an onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and hypertension have been denied as new and material evidence has not been presented to warrant reopening the claim.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by any incident of service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for COPD and chronic bronchitis.

Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions as the competent evidence does not establish a link between any current disabilities and service or any presumptive period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, cataracts, hearing loss, post-surgical bilateral pseudoaphakia, cystoid macular edema of the left eye, arthritis, chronic bronchitis, and allergic rhinitis. The reasons were that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease for these conditions.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from February 21, 2004 to February 24, 2004 were denied as the condition did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death was not related to his active military service or a service-connected disability, including arthritis.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during military service and is not related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred during service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The Board denied both claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for backache and rheumatism, but not for hypertension. The claim for service connection for a low back disorder is granted based on direct service connection due to the Veteran's participation in military activities during World War II. The claim for service connection for hypertension remains denied as no new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and right hand disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his period of service.