Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his blood pressure readings were predominantly below the thresholds for higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disability and a cardiovascular disability, as well as his increased rating claims. The decision also noted that new evidence did not provide sufficient material to reopen the claim for a pulmonary disability.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Memorial Hospital, Colorado Springs, from March 16 to March 19, 1997 are granted as the VA facilities were feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand or obtain prior VA authorization for the services required would have been reasonable, sound, wise, or practical.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the cause of the veteran's death to active service, and thus denied all claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, to include irregular heartbeat, murmur, palpitations, and hypertension, due to scarlet fever is not well grounded. There is no competent medical evidence linking his current cardiovascular disorders to his period of active duty service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was not sufficient to establish a well-grounded claim for hypertension, but noted that further development of the issue was needed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as his claims were not well-grounded.

The veteran's hypertension, residuals of rheumatic fever are not productive of diastolic pressure of predominantly 120 or more. The Board finds that the criteria for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for hypertension, residuals of rheumatic fever do not meet and therefore denied.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as her blood pressure readings did not consistently exceed the required thresholds under both old and new rating criteria.

The Board has found that the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are well grounded. The veteran experienced elevated blood pressure during service, which is considered a plausible basis for his current diagnoses of hypertension. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed within one year after service discharge, meeting the presumptive period criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his nephritis disability and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that neither condition warranted such ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of renal disease with proteinuria and hypertension, finding that her original claim was abandoned due to her failure to respond to notification of a VA examination scheduled in 1987. The effective date remains January 27, 1998.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for hypertension, currently rated at 10 percent, is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, gastritis, asthmatic bronchitis, and atypical psychosis. The RO assigned noncompensable evaluations to these conditions in June 1993.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias to his service-connected PTSD, thus denying both secondary service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for heart disorder and left inguinal hernia repair, but denied a higher rating for hiatal hernia with reflux. The veteran's claim is well-grounded.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for the veteran's diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, and denied an increased disability rating for his hypertension.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is well grounded. The claims for athletes foot and residuals of an injury to the left eye are not well grounded. The veteran's claim for increased rating for residuals of a fracture to the left shoulder with traumatic arthritis has been granted, resulting in a 20% evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injury to the right arm, hypertension, depression, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a back injury as they are not well-grounded.

The Board is unable to determine if the veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death. The claim will be remanded for further development, including obtaining VA hospital records and clarifying the VA physician's opinion regarding the role of PTSD in the cause of death.