Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The veteran's request for an earlier effective date for VA compensation benefits in lieu of military retirement pay was denied as the earliest legal basis is February 3, 2004.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death was not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking his cardiovascular problems to active duty in the 1950s or any other period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hypertensive Vascular Disease (claimed as Hypertension), and an increased evaluation of Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2. The veteran did not have combat duty or verified in-service stressors for PTSD. His hypertension was not found to be due to his diabetes mellitus, type 2, nor were there any other service-connected conditions that caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for hypertension, a back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The RO is instructed to consider these reopened claims.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and decrease in visual acuity. However, no new evidence was provided to establish a direct link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back disability with neurological impairment in the right leg, hypertension, pleural thick thickness, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities were not incurred in service, nor are they related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The veteran's hypothyroidism and hypertension have also been found not to be related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatic heart disease and hypertension, finding that the conditions existed prior to service and were not aggravated by military service.

The veteran's hypertension and hyperthyroidism are not service-connected. The Board is unable to determine if the veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his service, but it is service-connected. His diabetes mellitus remains service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension with nephrotic syndrome, low back disorder, and major depression with psychotic disorder. The evidence did not establish a direct link to service or any presumptive conditions.,There is no medical evidence linking the veteran's current disabilities to his military service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and reopening of service connection claims were denied. The veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for hypertension or a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for post-operative excision, condyle, right fifth metatarsal callous. His claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis and chronic fatigue syndrome have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board found that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, and a heart murmur. The decision denied this request.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied because the condition was not considered an emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for his left shoulder disability. The claim for hypertension was previously denied, and new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating it. For the left shoulder disability, the RO found that the current rating of 20% is the maximum available under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension existed at entry and was not aggravated during service, denying his claim for service connection. The congestive heart failure, eye disorder, and skin condition were also denied as not related to military service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for chronic hypertension and granted a 20 percent evaluation for his lumbosacral spine disability. The initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculitis was also granted, as were increased evaluations for weight gain and cushingoid habitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, asbestosis, and a higher rating for tinea pedis with hyperkeratomycosis. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease, to include as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence of a relationship between the veteran's service-connected PTSD and his current conditions.

The veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for service connection for Charcot's disease, and the RO's rating decisions of November 1976 and April 1981 were found to be correct.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service medical records from various military facilities and in Bamberg, Germany.