Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and denied the claim. The PTSD claim was also denied as there were insufficient verified stressors.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection due to cortical blindness, hypertension, and stroke. The earliest date entitlement arose was May 26, 1998.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, headaches, hypertension, and sinusitis as the veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues are whether hypertension can be service-connected as secondary to PTSD or diabetes, and whether the current rating for PTSD should be increased.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, hypertension, athlete's foot, and tonsil disorder due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in service or may be presumed to have been incurred within one year of separation from service. As there is no evidence linking the current diagnosis to service, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination regarding the veteran's claimed conditions, including urinary/kidney disorder, hypertension, and ulcerative stomach.