Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The Board determined that the disorders listed on the title page did not result from disease or injury in service.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have a heart disability and denied service connection for it. Service connection for hypertension was also denied as there is no evidence of its onset during active duty or within one year post-service.

The Board denied an increased rating for hypertension, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection grants of PTSD, bilateral pingueculae, and a gastrointestinal disorder classified as 'gastritis with esophagitis and duodenitis'.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and nonservice-connected pension due to a lack of competent medical evidence showing current diagnosis of PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for defective vision (claimed as total blindness). The claims for service connection for nervousness, sleeplessness and body weakness, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and osteoarthritis have all been denied.

The veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective August 2, 2000 due to his service-connected disabilities. However, the Board found that he did not meet the requirements for a prior effective date as of August 2, 2000.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including an increased rating for PTSD, service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease as secondary to PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for a nervous disorder, currently diagnosed as bipolar disorder. The claim is now decided on its merits.,Service connection for hypertension, heart condition, migraine headaches, and blocked arteries is denied because there is no evidence of these conditions during service or that they are related to tobacco use.

The veteran is seeking service connection for chronic cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension and coronary artery disease. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the veteran for a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a sleep disorder, as well as his application to reopen his claim of service connection for chloracne due to exposure to Agent Orange. The temporary total disability rating based on VA hospitalization was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arterial hypertension is related to his active duty for training, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for hypertension and headaches due to incomplete development of evidence, including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and onset of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, shortness of breath, skin disorders, sleep disorder, migraine headaches, watery eyes, right knee chondromalacia, cervical spine disability, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and benign posterior auricular node are denied. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder contributed or aggravated his fatal arteriosclerotic heart disease, which was listed as an underlying cause of death.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected arterial hypertension and left leg scars are denied. The evidence does not support a finding that either condition warrants an evaluation in excess of the currently assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was present prior to his entrance into active duty and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during his brief period of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board found that the evidence does not support service connection for COPD and hypertension, finding no medical opinion linking these conditions to active duty.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the etiology of the veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease, including whether they are related to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.