Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected hypertension, manifested primarily by systolic readings below 160 and diastolic readings of 90 or less, was granted a compensable rating from August 7, 2001 through March 31, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for nerve damage, left ulnar neuropathy, anxiety, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II, as these conditions are not shown to be related to the veteran's active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for VA treatment records and private physician's records, as well as a VA examination if evidence of hypertension during service is found.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his gunshot wound residuals and COPD, contributed to cause or hastened his death.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed disability of a knot of the chest or hypertension as a result of VA lung surgery. The claim was denied because there is no competent medical evidence showing that the proximate cause of these conditions was carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on VA's part.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and examinations to assess the veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was aggravated during his second period of active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and secondary service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted sufficient to reopen the previously-denied claim. The Board also determined that there is no medical nexus between the veteran's diagnosed hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current chronic low back disorder, COPD, or hypertension that is due to any incident or event in military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected hypertension, finding that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it manifested within one year of the veteran's separation from active duty.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for depression and an acquired neurosis, as well as seventh cranial nerve paralysis (facial palsy). However, it denied reopening of the claims for narcolepsy, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to lack of new and material evidence. The veteran's claim for PTSD was also reopened.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left hearing loss, prostate cancer, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss under VA criteria, and that prostate cancer did not have onset during service or be related to service. Hypertension was also not shown to have been incurred in service.

The veteran's hypertension, which requires continuous medication for control, has been granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent.

The veteran's request for a computer and golf clubs under the Individual Independent Living Program was denied because they are not considered necessary to his independence in daily living.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pulmonary asbestosis is related to his military service, and hypertension was not present during or within one year after service.

The veteran died in May 2003 and was not receiving VA compensation or pension benefits at the time of death. The appeal is denied as there are no criteria met for payment of a nonservice-connected burial benefit.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for hypertension and congestive heart failure to obtain additional medical records, conduct further examinations, and determine if there is a link between his service-connected conditions and these disabilities.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred on September 4, 2005 was denied because the services were not rendered in a medical emergency and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and hypertension as secondary to service-connected DM. The low back disorder claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.