Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the veteran's hypertension and skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of the veteran's cardiovascular disorders.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder. However, additional development is required due to uncertainty regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, finding that there was no evidence linking any disability to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned a 10 percent disability rating. The right ankle disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's claim for unreimbursed medical expenses prior to November 1, 1999 was denied as these expenses were not considered in the annualization period. The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status was also denied.

The Board found that the appellant did not have the requisite service to qualify for nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The cause of the veteran's death, acute myocardial infarction, was not determined to be related to his period of recognized service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is due to disease or injury incurred in active service, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical examination and further development of the record.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for postoperative residuals of a right cecal mass, diabetes mellitus, and lumbar spine stenosis. The claim for hypertension and heart disease was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head, a skin disability claimed as jungle rot, hypertension, and residuals of a cerebrovascular accident and heat exhaustion. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied, except for a 30% rating for the psychophysiological gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice and duty-to-assist provisions under the VCAA. The RO must ensure all necessary development is completed, including obtaining medical records and providing proper notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a compensable evaluation for any period since September 1, 1996.

The veteran's service-connected cystitis, prostatitis, and transurethral resection of the bladder neck is rated at 40 percent. The veteran's service-connected hypertension with history of hydronephrosis is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's spinal cord infarction was not caused by VA medical treatment, and thus denied his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder and hypertension, as well as his claim to reopen a left knee disability. The right knee disability claim is also being remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for secondary service connection for hypertension due to his service-connected PTSD. The VA examiner found no clear evidence linking the veteran's PTSD to his hypertension, and concluded that there was no aggravation of his hypertension by his PTSD.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension based on new evidence showing a diagnosis of hypertension post-service. The claim is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the veteran had normal hearing at entry into service and was exposed to hazardous noise levels during service.