Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation, finding that the evidence did not support these findings.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between the veteran's hypertension and his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip, and left knee. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied reopening the previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his hypertension is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the service-connected PTSD, which more nearly approximates the criteria for such a rating. The veteran's hypertension is also found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, but denied the underlying claim as there was no evidence that the condition was incurred during service. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide a VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, a skin rash due to undiagnosed illness, compression fractures of the lumbar spine, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and anxiety disorder. The appeal is based on evidence that was not previously considered.

The Board denied service connection for nasopharyngitis, dizziness, bronchitis, an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, sinusitis, and residuals of a concussion. Service connection for hypertension was also denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of well-groundedness and incomplete development. The RO is instructed to obtain medical evidence and provide a VA examination to determine if the veteran's hypertension is secondary to his PTSD, and whether peripheral neuropathy and porphyria cutaneous tarda are related to Agent Orange exposure.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for atherosclerotic heart disease with hypertension, as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the effective date for DIC benefits should be November 17, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic obesity and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor are they proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor could it be presumed to have been so incurred.

The VA determined that the veteran's hypertension, which requires continuous antihypertensive medication, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of material evidence.

The Board finds that the veteran now has essential hypertension, which is service-connected due to its onset during active duty. The heart disability claim was denied as not well grounded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, including hypertension, and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis (claimed as headaches) are pending. The claim for new and material evidence for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also pending.,A higher evaluation of 60 percent has been granted for the lumbar myositis and discogenic disease of the lumbar spine effective from January 31, 2000. However, prior to that date, a maximum evaluation of 20 percent was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, back disability, and hypertension. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen previously denied claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his acromioclavicular joint separation of the right shoulder, meniscus tear of the left knee, and hypertension as there is no evidence of more than slight instability or subluxation in the left knee, and no objective medical evidence of recurrent instability or subluxation in the right shoulder.