Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete verification of service dates and missing STRs.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hypertension in service, and there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and service. The claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, a condition of the feet, hypertension, and a psychiatric condition to include depression. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has granted special monthly pension for the surviving spouse at the housebound rate, but denied aid and attendance based on need for regular aid and assistance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions of coronary artery disease and hypertension were not incurred during service or due to a service-connected disability, including diabetes mellitus type II. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, hypertension, and sarcoidosis. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or injury that resulted in these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by AIDS, which is service-connected due to his hypertension. As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression/anxiety, hypertension, and a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected back and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fractured right fibula, with degenerative joint disease of the right ankle is granted. The claims for service connection for PTSD, malingering, hypertension, GERD, and basal cell cancer of the right cheek are denied. Service connection for arthritis of the right wrist and left wrist is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus has aggravated his coronary artery disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction disorders.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and reopening of service connection claims were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating above the assigned levels or reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The appellant's claim for an extension of her delimiting date was denied because she did not provide sufficient evidence showing the specific dates during which her physical and mental disabilities prevented her from completing her chosen education program.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension did not originate in service, were not aggravated by active service, and were not related to any incident during active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current disability is related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran's hypertension is also not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding no credible evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other factors linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's conditions, while disabling, do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on housebound status as he does not have a single permanent disability rated at 100% or more and is not permanently confined to his home.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability, jaw injury residuals, or hypertension that were incurred in service. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The claim for a higher evaluation of diabetes mellitus, type II is granted and the effective date is set at March 18, 2004. Service connection for hyperlipidemia, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and erectile dysfunction are all denied.