Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for hypertension to allow for additional development and consideration of his case.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as there is no evidence of any cardiovascular disease during or immediately following his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension with hypertensive nephrosclerosis warrants a disability rating of 60 percent, effective as of April 2003.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and osteoarthritis of multiple joints (including the knees) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The only post-service medical records are from many years after service.

The veteran's hypertension is found to be service-connected. The shell fragment wounds of the right arm and right leg are not addressed due to a remand for further action.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back, respiratory, and cardiac disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The hypertension was also not related to service.

The veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and his heart disease claim remains pending. The residuals of the right leg growth are also under review.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a service connection for any of the conditions listed, including hypertension, hemorrhoids, residuals of tympanic membrane perforations (tinnitus), right maxillary cyst, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, and right leg nerve damage.

The Board determined that the veteran's hypertension did not manifest during his service and is not related to any in-service event or condition, including his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The veteran's claim includes issues related to a higher rating for dysthymic disorder, an earlier effective date for service connection, and service connection for hypertension.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO found no evidence linking his conditions to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claims, including verifying stressor events for PTSD and obtaining medical records related to his hypertension.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of hypertension and service connection for a chronic sleep disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, schedule VA examinations, and ensure compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues, including VCAA notification requirements and clarification of the veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and SSA medical records. The RO will also seek an opinion from a specialist regarding whether the service-connected Reiter's syndrome may have contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, anosmianosia and loss of taste, frostbite of the feet, and hypertension. The decision found that hyperlipidemia is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, organic brain syndrome, and hypertension as there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents during service or a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for heart disease and hypertension, finding that these conditions were not related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for nicotine dependence and a higher initial evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C remain in appellate status.

The veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus has aggravated his post-service hypertension, and the benefit of doubt is applied in favor of the veteran. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus remains unresolved.