Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the veteran's service-connected low back disability results in the permanent loss of use of both lower extremities, necessitating the regular and constant use of a wheelchair or other assistive devices. The case will be returned for this purpose.

The Board denied the reopening of the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that the submitted evidence was not new and material.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bronchitis, and pharyngitis are not well-grounded as there is no competent medical evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The veteran's claim for reopening his service connection for coronary artery disease with hypertension was denied. His PTSD claim resulted in a 10% disability rating, but the issue of an increased evaluation for his low back injury remains unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and hypertension, but denied service connection for gout. The veteran's claims of PTSD and hypertension are well-grounded.

The Board found no competent medical evidence of a diagnosis or connection between the veteran's current cardiovascular disease and his service, thus denying the claim.

The veteran's esophageal varices with surgical shunt is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. The claims for hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders (including inflammatory bowel disease and peptic ulcer disease), and headaches are denied due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for joint problems, hypertension, gout, poor vision and heart problems secondary to his service-connected post-operative residuals of a right nephrectomy are not well-grounded. The claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder is well-grounded.

The veteran's combined non-service-connected disability rating is 60%, which does not meet the requirement for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board has determined that the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hepatitis are denied as there is no evidence to support a service connection claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for shrapnel wound of the right arm, hypertension, abdominal aortic aneurysm, telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans (secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and renal cyst (secondary to Agent Orange exposure). The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability is denied because there is no competent medical evidence linking the two.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his physical limitations, but independence in daily living activities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence to support a plausible claim for any of these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the University of South Alabama Medical Center on August 4, 1997, as it does not meet the legal criteria required to establish entitlement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728(a).

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his hospitalization at a private facility is denied as he has never established service connection for any disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension, maintaining a 60 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for ischemic heart disease, spinal arthritis, and hypertension. The claims were not well-grounded as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other plausible exposure basis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain, hypertension, and tinea manus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a comprehensive VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, and arthritis due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during military service.