Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and hypertension, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic sinus disorder or residuals of viral hepatitis related to his service. The claim for back disorder and hypertension is pending.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied. The Board found that the earliest date of receipt of his claim was July 28, 2005.

The Board has determined that hypertension, which was first diagnosed within a year of separation from service, may be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's son, G.B., was not permanently incapable of self-support at age 18 due to his medical conditions, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The evidence did not establish permanent incapacity prior to reaching the age of 18.

The Veteran's death was caused by an acute stroke, but there is no evidence linking any of the underlying conditions (diabetes, hypertension, and major depression) to his military service. The Board found that service connection for the cause of death is not warranted.

The Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly pension based on a need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including heart disease with coronary artery disease and moderate to severe heart failure. He also qualifies for housebound benefits as he is over 65 years old and has multiple service-connected conditions that independently rate at or above 60 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, renal disability, and upper and lower extremity disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension. The claims will be reconsidered after these actions are completed.

The Board denied service connection for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and PTSD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a left leg disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pacemaker implant, and hypertension. The evidence did not show current disabilities meeting VA compensation criteria for hearing loss or meet the one-year presumptive period for cardiovascular-renal disease including hypertension. Service connection was also not established on a secondary basis as there is no medical opinion linking these conditions to his service-connected right hand amputation and right eye blindness.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice regarding new and material evidence requirements.

The Veteran's left knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The combined disability of the right and left shoulders warrants a 10 percent rating as separate disabilities are not more than zero percent.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) does not warrant an initial compensable rating. Hypertension also does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, Type II have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as there was no prior claim or evidence of entitlement to these benefits before the assigned effective dates.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to service connection for residuals of cerebrovascular accident (claimed as stroke), hypertension, coronary artery disease, disability exhibited by high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction, insomnia, and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the claimed conditions did not manifest during active service or within one year of service, and are not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service.