Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, a heart condition, hypertension, and a lumbar spine disorder as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The veteran was not granted service connection for any of these conditions.

The veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the issues related to PTSD, bilateral cataracts, rectal and colon polyps, GERD, burning of the feet, legs, and hips, and hypertension. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and anxiety and depression, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient efforts in investigating the veteran's stressor allegations and obtaining a VA examination regarding PTSD, chronic bronchitis, hypertension, and ED.

The veteran died from cardio-respiratory arrest due to bronchial asthma. The Board finds that the service-connected disability did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed health problems were not incurred in or aggravated by service, including his participation in Project 112/SHAD.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings have been denied as the assigned ratings are already at their maximum under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected nummular dermatitis and hypertension do not warrant evaluations in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent ratings. The veteran's psychiatric disability, claimed as secondary to his service-connected nummular dermatitis, is also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with notification and obtaining service medical records. The veteran's claims for service connection on all four issues are pending.

The Board found no present diagnosis of PTSD and denied the veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hypertension with associated retinopathy. The issues regarding these conditions are now remanded for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and CFS were denied. The claim for service connection for IBS was granted with an initial rating of 10 percent, effective June 4, 2003. The claim for service connection for joint pain was also granted with a 10 percent initial rating, effective June 4, 2003.

The veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and hypertension with myocardial infarction, as secondary to service-connected PTSD, are denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lumbar spine disability and hypertension are both service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the veteran.

The veteran was granted service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Her hypertension is considered to have developed during her pregnancy, with sporadic elevated readings noted in service records. Diabetes was diagnosed shortly after October 2000.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tension headaches remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no medical evidence showing their onset during service or within one year following discharge. The presumptions for Vietnam-era veterans do not apply to this case.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for leukopenia, vision loss (decreased visual acuity), high cholesterol, and hypertension are not supported by evidence of a current disability or a disease incurred in service. The veteran's leukopenia is considered an abnormal laboratory finding rather than a recognized medical condition warranting service connection. His decreased visual acuity is due to refractive errors of the eyes, which are developmental defects and not diseases or injuries within the meaning of applicable legislation for VA purposes. Hypertension was not incurred in service and there is no positive association with herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or to exposure to herbicides. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between the veteran's current diagnoses of asthma and hypertension and his service-connected diabetes.