Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's heart conditions and PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's requests for increased ratings for hypertension and gouty arthritis, as well as his attempt to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder.

The VA determined that the veteran does not have hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, a skin disorder (presumed due to Agent Orange exposure), polyneuropathy (presumed due to Agent Orange exposure), or residuals of head injury as claimed. The decision was based on lack of evidence showing these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension due to new and material evidence, but finds that there is no medical evidence linking his current condition to his time in active duty or reserve service.

The veteran's cause of death was due to a cerebrovascular accident, but his service-connected lumbar strain did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. Hypertension is also service-connected but not considered the primary cause of death.

The Board has ordered a remand for additional development, including obtaining VA and Social Security Administration records, scheduling the veteran for a PTSD examination, and scheduling an appropriate hypertension examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the veteran's current hypertension is caused or worsened by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no relationship between his service-connected burn residuals and the coronary artery disease that caused his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for hypertension, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the January 1975 rating decision. The RO did not adjudicate the issue of hypertension within one year of the veteran's separation from active duty.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining evidence and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased evaluation for bilateral pes planus and earlier effective date for hypertension are also being addressed.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the previously denied claim. The Board also found that hypertension or arteriosclerosis were not related to service.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatic fever and for claimed residuals of exposure to microwave radar emissions, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depression, and depressive disorder, as well as hypertension. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability and an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was increased to a 30% rating effective September 25, 1995. Service connection for low back disorder and hypertension were also established.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected diabetes and PTSD caused or worsened the appellant's atrial fibrillation and hypertension.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, a cerebrovascular accident due to atherosclerosis, was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability. The hypertension and atherosclerosis were determined to have begun more than a few years post-service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and renal failure, finding that these conditions were not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury.

The veteran is seeking to reopen her claim for service connection of post-traumatic stress disorder and is also seeking increased ratings for other conditions. The case has been remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.