Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back/neck pain, skin condition (claimed as rash), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypertension, and prostate irregularity is denied.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities, which include degenerative disc disease, degenerative changes of both knees, diabetes mellitus type 2, pes cavus in both feet, hypertension, arthritic changes of the left shoulder, and rheumatoid arthritis affecting both lower extremities.

The Board found that the RO properly calculated the combined schedular evaluation for the service-connected disabilities and denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a higher combined evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for hypertension was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The right knee issue is being remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal due to his death while the case was pending.

The Veteran has a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling (PTSD) and additional disabilities independently rated at least 60 percent disabling. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s)(1).

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication, including obtaining medical opinions on whether the Veteran's death was related to his service or any other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of his hypertension and service-connected postoperative residuals of toxic goiter. The claims will be readjudicated after this development.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension, specifically whether it is more likely than not that his service-connected residuals of head trauma or PTSD caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Veteran's back disorder, heart disorder (to include hypertension), and tuberculosis were not incurred or aggravated by military service. The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting conditions existed prior to his entry into service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that it is aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected major depression without psychotic features. The low back disorder was not incurred or aggravated during service nor is it proximately due to or the result of the service-connected right total knee replacement.

The Veteran's hypertension, right foot drop, and residual limitation of motion for his L5-S1 spine disability were all rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The appeal is denied as there are no grounds to grant higher ratings.

The Veteran's initial rating for his generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD features has been increased to 30 percent, effective from May 15, 2001. Service connection was granted for hypertension and a seizure disorder, but the Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right atrial enlargement. The issue is being remanded due to new evidence added since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's kidney stones are not related to his service or any service-connected condition. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his claimed anxiety disorder, hypertension, familial tremor, and IBS (abdominal muscle spasms).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and hepatitis C were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and it may not be presumed to have been so incurred. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's deep vein thrombosis of the right leg is rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation due to lack of persistent edema or stasis pigmentation/eczema with ulceration.,The Veteran's hypertension is currently evaluated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 7101. The evidence shows that his blood pressure readings were predominantly below 160 systolic and below 100 diastolic, thus not meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current hearing loss disability is etiologically related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. Regarding the respiratory disorder claim, an examination is needed to determine if the appellant's conditions are due to service or other factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and for increased ratings for hiatal hernia with gastric ulcer and intermittent functional gastroenteritis, as well as a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis with history of sinusitis. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating or an earlier effective date.