Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hip disability, hypertension, and Hepatitis C were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.,There is no persuasive evidence showing a connection between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a left knee disorder. The claim for reopening of a previously denied claim for lumbosacral strain was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

Since June 1, 2005, the Veteran's hypertension has been controlled with medication and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,From June 1, 2005 to October 4, 2007, his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was manifested by pain on motion with forward flexion of at least 70 degrees. No additional neurologic disability manifestations or incapacitating episodes were shown during this period.,Since October 5, 2007, the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease has been characterized by chronic pain resulting in limitation of forward flexion to 60 degrees. There is no evidence of ankylosis, additional neurologic disability manifestations, or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a right ankle disability, rhinitis, left inguinal hernia, and epigastric hernia. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus and did not reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain records from various healthcare providers and will review the claims again after receiving these records.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella has been rated appropriately.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension warranted a 20 percent rating, considering his increasing dosages of medication and blood pressure readings over 200.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated during active service and is unrelated to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and residuals of a stroke, including as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran should be afforded a comprehensive examination in order to determine the current nature, severity, and etiology of his hypertension. Further, the RO should provide adequate notice regarding requirements and procedures necessary to substantiate a claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran died from natural causes with contributing conditions of recurrent pneumonia and hypertension. The service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his claim for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's death was caused by renal failure, which may be related to his service-connected hypertension. The claimant is seeking DIC benefits based on her husband's service-connected conditions and the denial of these claims requires further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's BPH and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they related to any service-connected disability. The claims for arthritis and pleurisy/bronchitis have been referred to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a blood pressure disorder and an increased rating for his thyroid condition were both denied. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to service, but did not assign any disability ratings as there was no evidence of compensable symptoms.

The Board found no evidence of current hypertension or cardiovascular disease related to service and denied the Veteran's claims.