Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining verification of service periods and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a chronic sleep disorder due to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, heart condition, and high cholesterol. Service connection was granted for pes planus but not for mechanical low back pain or pancreatitis with removal of gall bladder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for major depressive disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more at any time during the appeal period for hypertension. For the major depressive disorder claim, the Board found that while the veteran had significant psychiatric symptoms and continued to experience depression, his GAF scores were consistently within the range indicative of moderate impairment.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria. The appeal regarding service connection for generalized arthritis of multiple joints was also denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected renal disease, status post renal transplant and status post coronary artery bypass graft and hypertension, finding that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, hypertension, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and acute gastroenteritis as these conditions were not shown to be related to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation, and there was insufficient medical evidence to link any current conditions to his military service.

The veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially contributed to, a disability incurred in service. The basic eligibility requirements for DEA under Chapter 35 have not been met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development of his claims.

The veteran's appeal of the issues regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus and compensation for hypertension under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The veteran's PTSD is service connected. His heart disease and hypertension are not service connected, but his dermatitis of the hands warrants a 10% rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions, including COPD, hypertension, arthritis, dysthymic disorder, peptic ulcer disease, polyarthralgia, and hypothyroidism. The veteran's service medical records did not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of 10 percent for service-connected hypertension before the Board could make a decision.

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

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, central retinal vein occlusion with macular edema and hypertensive retinopathy of the right eye as secondary to hypertension, and the degree of aggravation of an anxiety disorder attributable to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board finds that the veteran's hypertension, which required medication within a year of service, may be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, and chronic headaches. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 21, 2001 for his nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a lack of evidence showing he was incapacitated within one year prior to filing the claim.