Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board denied an increased rating for hypertension, finding that the veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal was denied on all issues, including service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, and dental trauma. The RO also granted service connection for a skin rash but assigned it a noncompensable rating.

The VA determined that the appellant's current right eye condition, diagnosed as ocular hypertension, was not incurred in or aggravated during active peacetime service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no evidence linking his cardiovascular issues to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, and vertebral-basilar artery atherosclerotic disease are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder with dysthymic disorder.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase during the appeal period.

The Board denied a rating greater than 30 percent for hypertension before April 11, 2001 and greater than 60 percent from that date. The veteran's hypertension was evaluated based on blood pressure readings.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the earliest date of entitlement was May 14, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, finding that there was clear and unmistakable evidence demonstrating that hypertension had its onset prior to his entrance into active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension. However, the veteran's claim is denied as there is no evidence showing a diagnosis of coronary artery disease during or within one year after service, nor can it be presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Board also found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and his claimed stressors have not been verified.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected heart disorder did not contribute to his death or accelerate it. The cause of death was determined to be esophageal cancer, which began due to chronic reflux issues related to his service-connected conditions and aggravated by medications for those conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 60 percent for hypertensive cardiovascular disease with hypertension, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence to support an increased rating for the appendectomy scar and denied service connection for gout and hypertension. The appellant's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his hypertension and varicose veins, as well as service connection for right and left knee disorders. The veteran was not granted a compensable rating for pterygium of the left eye.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for hypertension, finding that his blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or revised VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, sinus disorder, fatigue disorder, headache disorder, cold-like symptoms, and upper respiratory illness and tonsillitis. The reasons were that there was no evidence of a chronic condition or undiagnosed illness related to active service.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have current disabilities for tuberculosis, peptic ulcer disease, allergies, heart disease, hypertension, or arthritis that are related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's hypertension with mitral valve prolapse, palpitations, and dyspnea is rated at 30 percent. The athlete's foot, bilateral, with fungus between the toes and onychomycosis is rated at 10 percent. The chondromalacia of the left patella, with history of arthritis, does not warrant a compensable rating. The veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's right shoulder injury, along with other conditions like hypertension and back pain, prevents him from engaging in substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the appellant's hypertension preexisted her period of active duty for training and was not incurred or aggravated by service. The RO's decision to deny service connection is upheld.