Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2003

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the veteran may have had hypertension during his military service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cholecystectomy, residuals of appendectomy, phlebitis, right lower extremity, and multicystic kidney disease. The evidence did not support higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural defects, and the RO must ensure all VCAA notice obligations are satisfied before proceeding with further action.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability and hypertension, finding that the veteran's left ventricular hypertrophy is due to service. Service connection for post-traumatic headaches was also granted with an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and determined that the veteran's current hypertension is related to his service. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, Type II, remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sleep apnea and hypertensive cardiovascular disease including hypertension are as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of submucous resection.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for sinusitis, atypical chest pain, hypertension, a heart condition, goiter of the throat, and low back disorder due to lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims of service connection for various conditions and a claim for an increased evaluation for the service-connected appendectomy scar.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's hypertension in an August 2002 decision. The veteran has withdrawn his appeal from this decision and is now seeking a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in the current appeal on the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, a liver disorder, and PTSD. The RO must ensure all notification and development action required by 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 5102, 5103, and 5103A (West 2002) are fully complied with.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including major depressive disorder and hypertension, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted a compensable rating for the service-connected functional heart murmur, finding that it is not productive of dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope and does not require continuous medication. The claim of service connection for hypertension was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the November 1994 decision.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and denied service connection for hypertension. Diabetes mellitus was incurred in military service, while hypertension is not presumed or linked to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bradycardia, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of evidence showing a current disability or a link between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being sent back to the RO for specific actions, including obtaining service medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The veteran's death was not caused by his own willful misconduct, and he had a service-connected disability rated totally disabling for 10 years prior to his death. However, the claim is denied as there is no actual entitlement to compensation at a total disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned a 100% evaluation, effective from March 1998. The veteran's other claims are pending.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being sent back to the RO for the requested development.