Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD, headaches, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The veteran is currently rated at 40 percent for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The VA examiner stated that the in-service blood pressure readings signify hypertension by modern standards, and a private physician indicated treatment for hypertension in 1958. Therefore, the claim is granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, CAD, and onychomycosis and tinea pedis was granted with an initial disability rating of 30 percent effective August 9, 2004. The effective date for the grant of secondary service connection for onychomycosis and tinea pedis is March 30, 2001.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The claims will be returned to the Board once this is done.

The Board found that the veteran's claims of service connection for diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and burial benefits due to lack of evidence showing a causal link between any service-connected condition and the veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, facial scars, and headaches. The combined evaluation of these conditions is at 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a direct connection to active duty or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), was not service-connected. The appellant did not have qualifying service and thus is not eligible for accrued benefits.

The veteran's cause of death was attributed to Parkinson's disease, with hypertension and coronary artery disease as contributing conditions. The Board has ordered a remand for obtaining medical opinions regarding whether the service-connected peripheral vascular disease contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing and requests that it be rescheduled at the St. Louis RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disability and service connection for hypertension and a heart condition, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis or nonunion/malunion of the tibia/fibula. The Board also found that the veteran's current disabilities did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation under DC 5010 without consideration of painful motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's service and his current hypertension.

The veteran's appeal is currently on hold due to a stay imposed by the Secretary of VA. The issues related to service connection for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, bilateral neuropathy of the feet, bilateral vision problems, loss of a right foot toe, and bilateral ulcers of the feet are subject to this stay. Hypertension remains an issue that will be addressed once the stay is lifted.

The VA determined that the veteran's diabetes did not improve and thus denied reducing his disability rating from 60 percent to 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral paresthesia, arthritis, hypertension, and a respiratory disorder due to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support these claims as there was no current diagnosis of any condition related to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, Type II, lupus erythematosus, and hypertension. The evidence does not establish that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and an initial (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss is not warranted.