Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the veteran's claims, including a VA examination for hypertension and PTSD.

The veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, right leg disability, back disability, coronary artery disease, upper respiratory disorder, and hypertension were all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertensive heart disease with hypertension. The veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine whether he has any hypertensive heart disease or hypertension related to service, including complaints of shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, and low blood pressure.

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

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of hypertension and for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Type-II diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection. The Board finds that additional cardiovascular examination is needed to determine if her hypertension and other heart problems are related to or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the veteran for purposes of receiving VA death benefits due to a prior valid marriage.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disorder, finding that new and material evidence supports these claims. The evidence indicates that the veteran's pre-existing heart condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the veteran's failure to appear at a scheduled video conference hearing. The claim for service connection will be reconsidered after the hearing is rescheduled.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and Type II diabetes mellitus are not service-connected, as there is no evidence showing a direct link to service or aggravation by service-connected conditions. The claim for hepatitis C was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a skull fracture, including post-traumatic headaches, are service-connected. However, hypertension is not service-connected as it did not develop during active duty and there is no evidence linking it to his skull fracture.

The Board finds that service connection for peripheral neuropathy is not warranted as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or association with Agent Orange exposure. Service connection for PTSD and hypertension secondary to PTSD are denied due to lack of competent medical evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability or cardiovascular disease in service, and the medical opinions were not supportive of a connection to service. The veteran's current conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of hernia repair. The veteran underwent a hernia repair while in service and the separation examination noted an umbilical hernia repair scar.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and heart disorder were not incurred in or related to his military service, nor could they be presumed to have been caused by any incident of service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, left hallux valgus with arthritis, and right hallux valgus with arthritis and heel spur syndrome. The RO had initially assigned a noncompensable rating for hypertension but later increased it to 10 percent effective December 1, 2005.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for coronary artery disease, postoperative with hypercholesterolemia, was granted effective March 22, 2007. He is now rated at 100 percent.