Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The Board has granted secondary service connection for a cardiovascular disability, to include hypertension, as aggravated by the veteran's service-connected PTSD. Diabetes mellitus type II is not considered in aggravating the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his hypertension and any other heart disorders. The RO will then review the case and readjudicate it.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and left hip disorder were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor can they be presumed to have been incurred. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's claim for non-service connected pension benefits is remanded due to the need for further examination and development of his medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hypertension began during his active duty service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of evidence and needs further review.

The Board has granted service connection for infectious hepatitis and assigned a 10% rating, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for hypertension and malaria is denied.

The veteran seeks service connection for essential hypertension. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination to determine if his pre-existing condition was permanently aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has determined that the case requires additional medical records and a VA opinion to determine if the veteran's service-connected cold weather injury residuals contributed to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not start during service and is not related to military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a heart murmur, and blackouts due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and residuals of an injury to the right hand, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease cannot be earlier than September 14, 2003, as there were prior final decisions regarding this claim. The issue of service connection for a chronic low back disorder is also addressed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, a neck disorder, and skin disorders, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service injury or exposure to herbicides. The diagnoses provided by the medical records did not support these claims.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and readjudication due to issues related to reopening a claim of service connection for hypertension.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating under VA regulations. The Board has determined that there are no circumstances outside the norm that would justify a total disability rating based on unemployability.