Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension because there was no objective evidence relating it to his active service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to herbicides during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, arthritis, and headaches due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD and assigned a 10 percent evaluation. The gastrointestinal disorder (IBS) is also service connected, but the right knee and ED disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness, bilateral finger numbness, hypertension, and postoperative residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus. The issues were remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for lung cancer residuals was pending at the time of his death. His April 2005 pulmonary function test results supported an award of a 60 percent disability rating, which is granted as accrued benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in active service or within one year of active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and denied nonservice-connected death pension benefits due to lack of evidence linking the cause of death to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or Graves' disease attributable to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and small vessel disease were granted a 10 percent disability rating prior to March 24, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension was denied as there is no indication in the file that a formal or informal claim was filed between the RO's denial in August 2002 and the reopened claim in September 2004.

The Veteran's service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The appellant did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for hypertension or PTSD, and her DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and because of deficiencies in a previous VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for some conditions, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood secondary to a service-connected disability. The other claims related to malaria, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and thyroid abnormalities are either not supported by the evidence or have been reopened based on new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cognitive disorder, vision impairment, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran was also denied increased ratings for hypertension and TDIU. The decision did not address the issue of service connection based on exposure to burn pits or other specific environments.

The Board finds that none of the service-connected conditions caused or contributed to the Veteran's death. The preponderance of evidence is against granting service connection for the cause of death.