Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus are secondary to his service-connected acute myelogenous leukemia.

The veteran's epididymitis was denied a higher rating, while his emphysema with asthma received increased ratings from December 1994 to June 2000. However, the RO has not granted a higher than 60 percent rating for the condition since June 8, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted. The veteran had a single high blood pressure reading during service but no diagnosis of hypertension at any time thereafter.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for heart disease, including hypertension and tachycardia. The evidence received since the RO's September 1990 decision was not considered new and material.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for loss of bone tissue resulting in loss of teeth, hypertension, and gum infection. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for loss of bone tissue resulting in loss of teeth. Service connection was not granted for hypertension or gum infection due to lack of medical evidence showing these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and major depression, finding that these conditions are proximately due to the veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board found that the veteran's death was caused by improper and inadequate medical care during his February 1995 VA hospitalization, resulting in a grant of dependency and indemnity compensation.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his period of service.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, occlusive coronary artery disease due to (or as a consequence of) coronary arteriosclerosis, was not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension cannot be earlier than February 1, 1995.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, finding that his disabilities did not result in helplessness due to mental or physical impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of frostbite of the left ear and hypertension, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for residuals of frostbite. The hypertension was determined not to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death was not incurred or aggravated during his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disease and hypertension did not have a direct link to his service, and thus were not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability. The claim for DIC based on the cause of death was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's left ureteropelvic junction obstruction with left renal insufficiency and right renal hypertrophy are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or its complications. The veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated as 40 percent disabling due to noncompensable complications of diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic nephropathy.

The veteran's service-connected status post failed kidney transplant with hypertension was increased to a 60 percent rating effective April 6, 1999. The claim for an earlier effective date of October 29, 1999 is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including arthritis, hypertension, a colon disorder, and a nervous stomach disorder, are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected low back disability, effective from March 18, 1997. The appeal is denied on all other issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left leg injury, including scars, and tinnitus. The Board finds that these conditions are etiologically related to his period of active service.