Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2004

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's hypertension, effective from when it was first noted in service and controlled with medication.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral eye disorder, finding that his current conditions are not related to his in-service exposure and were not incurred or aggravated by any disease or injury during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his heart disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a back injury, but denied claims for other conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and medical records, requiring further investigation before a determination can be made.

The Board has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to obtain medical records from April 1983 to November 2002 for the veteran's hypertension and renal disease. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including additional VA examinations and a review of the claims file to ensure compliance with all due process requirements.

The veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, hypertension, COPD, gastroesophageal reflux, sarcoidosis cyst of the left adrenal gland, splenic cystic lesion, kidney cystic lesion, organomegaly, spinal cord tumor, spinal injury, foot drop, claw foot, hammertoes, gunshot wound residuals, and nephritis. The appeal is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance due to lack of evidence showing he is in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board has received notification that the appellant wishes to withdraw his appeal. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not granted any of the claims. The veteran's pleurisy and left spontaneous pneumothorax are considered to be unrelated to his active service. His arteriosclerotic heart disease with angina and hypertension were also denied as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The veteran's pleural changes or fibrosis, claimed as due to asbestos exposure, have been reopened but the Board has not granted this claim either.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hematuria, bilateral eye disability, hypertension, headaches (claimed as secondary to a low back disability), and numbness of the fingers (claimed as secondary to a low back disability) have all been denied. The only competent opinion on the question of medical nexus confirms that none of these conditions are related to his service.,The veteran was granted service connection for a low back disability, but this does not affect the denial of the other claims.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected neurocirculatory asthenia, but the case needs further development to determine if other conditions are related to his service connection.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to any decision being made.

The veteran's hypertension was found to be related to his military service, but there were no residuals of a right knee or shoulder injury found.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted, and he now has a current diagnosis of hypertension related to his active service. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that the veteran's exposure to herbicides during active duty was not supported by evidence of record. The Board also found no direct or secondary service connection for hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The effective date is not specified, and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.