Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are granted as his conditions can be related to his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and for an initial rating of 10 percent for hypertension. The veteran was granted service connection for hypertension, but his claim for a higher initial rating was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's seizures and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board found that the veteran did not have service-connected disabilities and thus could not establish service connection for the cause of his death. The appellant's claims for accrued benefits were also denied as she had not submitted a timely application.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and grants this claim. The issue of a higher initial evaluation for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, back disability, and psychiatric disability (claimed as fainting), but finds that none of these claims are well grounded.

The veteran's service-connected bronchiectasis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sinusitis are found to be of such severity as to prevent him from engaging in any substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational attainment and occupational experience, warranting a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and above the left knee amputation.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for hypertension, concluding that the evidence does not support a finding of pre-existing hypertension prior to service entry and that there was no increase in severity during active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 11, 1997. The veteran appealed for a higher rating but was denied as there were no blood pressure readings exceeding the criteria for a higher rating under the current regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's pulmonary tuberculosis clearly existed prior to his entry into military service and was not aggravated during service. The claims for bronchitis, asthma, and hypertension resulting from tobacco use in service were denied as there is no evidence of their presence or development during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for depression, hypertension, heart disease, stomach disability, and back disability are not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disability manifested by hypertension or chronic hepatitis B, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The veteran's current rating for his service-connected chronic hepatitis B remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's burial expenses are deductible from her countable income, and she is entitled to special monthly death pension based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and hepatitis are service-connected based on direct evidence of their onset during service.

The Board denied an increased rating for hypertension, finding that the evidence did not show diastolic blood pressure readings predominantly 120 or more, which is required for a schedular rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for polyps and tumor of the nose, and diabetes mellitus. The new evidence submitted by the veteran suggests exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in service, which is material to his claims.

The veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded to obtain additional medical records from the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. The RO will then review and reconsider the case.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience.