Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease were partially granted. Service connection was established for PTSD with a rating of 30 percent effective from October 11, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, left acromioclavicular joint separation, and lumbosacral disc syndrome were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of entitlement to service connection for coronary artery disease, claimed as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset in active service. The claim of a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran was not entitled to service connection for hypertension or glioblastoma at the time of his death, and therefore, he is not eligible for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, hypertension, migraine headaches, and chronic lung disability were denied. His claim for an increased rating for PTSD was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for high cholesterol, PTSD, hypertension, and tinnitus as there was no current medical evidence of these conditions or a link to service.

The Board has restored service connection for pulmonary hypertension, as a residual of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are being reviewed to determine if they are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Additional VA examination is needed for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further verification of herbicide exposure at Fort Dix.

The Veteran's Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and Hypertension are presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board granted the claims for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension was not related to military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, PTSD, and hypertension. The Veteran did not have service in Vietnam or combat duty, nor could his current conditions be linked to any incident of service.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for hypertension, but not more than 10 percent. The Veteran's diastolic blood pressure readings were in the '100 range' when he was off medication, supporting a finding of predominant diastolic readings of at least 100.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which is secondary to PTSD, was granted. The earlier effective date request for a 20% rating and service connection due to a retained bullet in the right lung was also granted. There was no finding of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the March 1969 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and hypertension as there was no credible supporting evidence of a stressor and the Veteran did not engage in combat. The Veteran also had normal hearing during service.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and he is granted a 20 percent rating for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a psychiatric disability, heart disability, pancreatitis, and hypertension. The evidence did not corroborate the claimed in-service stressors or show that any of these conditions were related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being homebound is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his ability to perform daily activities and require assistance.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed for possible service connection, and the DIC claim is inextricably intertwined with this issue. The Board requires a VA medical opinion to determine if any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.