Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2003

The Board has remanded the case due to changes in the law brought about by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and Charles v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 370 (2002); Quartuccio v. Principi, 16 Vet. App. 183 (2002).

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for psychiatric disability and granted an increase in rating for hypertension. The veteran's current mental health condition is related to his service, but it is unclear whether this relationship is due to drug abuse or a pre-existing condition.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The issues of service connection for hypertension, gout, and cirrhosis are on appeal.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case, including requesting additional records from the Social Security Administration and scheduling examinations for a cranial nerves examination and a skin examination. The appeal is currently pending due to these developments.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date prior to October 26, 2000 for the grant of service connection for compensation and for bilateral hearing loss. The veteran was granted service connection for hypertension with a 10% evaluation effective October 26, 2000.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the veteran's seizure disorder is related to his active military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The RO denied the claim because it found no evidence of renal disease or diabetic nephropathy, which are necessary for a secondary service connection claim based on diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is most likely secondary to his service-connected PTSD and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's left hip condition, which he sustained in a pre-existing injury prior to service, was aggravated during his second period of active service. Service connection for arthritis of the left hip is granted.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not clear and unmistakable that the condition pre-existed service. The BVA also found no evidence to support a direct link between the veteran's current diagnosis and his military service.

The Board determined that the veteran's essential hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for tinea pedis with foot rash was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his service-connected hypertension and associated heart disease, which contributed to his death. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the condition is directly related to the veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and diminished eyesight as these conditions did not begin during or after service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran currently has hypertension related to service and obtaining medical records from health care providers who have treated her since discharge.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, and loss of teeth numbers 1, 14, 16, 19, 31 and 32 due to dental trauma.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of their presence in service or within one year of separation. The claim for an earlier effective date for a back disability was also denied.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board has ordered a remand to provide the necessary examination and review of evidence.