The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current hypertension to his service or any service-connected condition, and thus denied service connection on both direct and presumptive bases. For lumbosacral strain, the Board noted that isolated elevated blood pressure readings during service were a normal response to pain, but did not cause sustained hypertension. The Board also found no evidence of aggravation by the veteran's service-connected lumbar strain.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided by VA physicians indicated that the veteran's current hypertension was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar strain and was instead a result of isolated elevated blood pressure readings during service, which were considered normal responses to pain. The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current hypertension to his service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2007
- Citation
- 0702811
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0702811.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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