Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran's cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to his military service. The claim was denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach condition due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed before making a decision on the merits of the claims.

The veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, diabetes mellitus type II (due to herbicide exposure), congestive heart failure, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records and medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension, a right leg disability, a heart disability, and poor circulation in the right leg. The evidence did not support the veteran's assertions that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, compensation benefits, and unemployability are pending.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature, etiology and approximate onset date of the veteran's hypertension and heart disease. The veteran's service records show multiple high blood pressure readings during active duty, but no specific diagnosis of hypertension until several years after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being required, including obtaining medical records and verifying stressor events.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and employment information.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral leg pain, left elbow pain, and right arm tendonitis. The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability related to these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have occurred during service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, a low back disorder, a left wrist disorder, and a bilateral hip disorder. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions in service or current disabilities related to military service.

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied because there is no evidence that the emotional distress he experienced in November 2001, due to VA refusal of dental treatment, caused his need for cardiac pacing or aggravated his nonservice-connected hypertension with atrial fibrillation and pacemaker implantation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including hypertension, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability, are not service-connected. The evidence does not show their onset during active service or for many years thereafter, and there is no indication of a causal relationship to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others denied. The veteran was granted service connection for various conditions but had his hearing loss rating continued at noncompensable level.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension warrant a restoration of a 100 percent rating effective from March 1, 1999.

The Board found that the veteran had submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claims for a chronic acquired respiratory disorder, hypertension, and bilateral ankle and knee disorders. The VA examinations conducted in June 2003 supported service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that further medical assessment is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's hypertension, skin disorder, and PTSD. The case is being remanded for these examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for low back and skin conditions have not been reopened. Service connection for hypertension has been denied. The status of the remaining issues is pending.