Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The case is being remanded to the RO for further action due to missing VA treatment records and clarification of whether or not the veteran wishes to have a Board hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's hypertension and subsequent cerebrovascular accident, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a gastrointestinal disorder, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and is not related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus with secondary disabilities of hypertension and kidney disease was denied.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for hypertension to allow for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing notification under the VCAA.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure. The veteran's back disability, for which he has received compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, does not aggravate his hypertension.

The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied as the appellant's spouse did not meet the requirements of being continuously rated totally disabled for a period of 10 years or more immediately preceding her husband's death, or five or more years from the date of discharge from service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain, left ankle disability, plantar fasciitis, hemorrhoids, and gastrointestinal disorder. The veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing chronic disabilities in service or continuity of symptoms since service.,Service connection was also denied for hypertension as there was no diagnosis of the condition during service or at any point after service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and glaucoma due to incomplete medical records, lack of VA examinations, and other procedural issues.

The veteran seeks service connection for various cardiovascular and neurological conditions, including essential hypertension, coronary artery disease with ischemic cardiomyopathy, and the residuals of a cerebral hemorrhage. The Board has ordered further development to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected hypertension, effective from when the evidence shows it was first confirmed and meets the criteria for such a rating.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, arteriosclerotic heart disease, was not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for herpes and service connection for hypertension. The Board found that there was no evidence of active herpes during service, and that hypertension did not become manifest within one year following discharge from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia are related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and basic eligibility for non-service connected pension benefits, finding that the appellant did not file timely applications and lacked legal entitlement to these benefits.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and to reopen his claim of service connection for a heart disorder. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's applications to reopen his claims of service connection for congestive heart failure, hypertension, and vertigo as secondary to service-connected residuals of a tonsillectomy. The evidence received since the prior denials was not considered sufficient to establish new and material evidence.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current hypertension that is etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for a low back disorder and headaches. The veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied. Claims for sinusitis, hypertension, chronic urinary tract infection, gastrointestinal disorder, and throat disorder are also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by active military service and is not presumed to have been so incurred. The seizure disorder claim is also denied as there is no current medical diagnosis of a seizure disorder.