Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The veteran's death is being reviewed to determine if his service-connected conditions contributed to it, and whether VA was negligent in releasing him during a hospital stay prior to his death. The case is being remanded for further medical evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a determination on whether he is permanently disabled to the extent that he qualifies for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35 of title 38 of the United States Code.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, left knee disorder, and hypertension. The veteran's claims were not supported by verified stressors or medical evidence linking the conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU are being remanded due to an incomplete file. The RO is instructed to reconstruct the relevant portion of the claims file before returning it to the Board.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied.,No new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and a respiratory disorder, but granted service connection for pulmonary hypertension. The veteran's depression was rated at 70 percent under the criteria for PTSD. Service connection for right knee disability and left knee disability were both denied, as was a compensable evaluation for costochondritis.

The Board found no evidence of a heart disability or hypertension in service, and the only competent opinion stated that there is not a link between current conditions and military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine if there is a 50 percent or better probability that the veteran's hypertension was caused by his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hypercholesterolemia were not incurred or aggravated during service. The VA examiners concluded these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for hypertension, status-post pacemaker insertion.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for plantar warts of the right foot is denied. The issues pertaining to PTSD, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension are addressed in the REMAND portion of this document.

The veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and the causes of death were not directly related to his service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for depression, seizures, and high blood pressure secondary to his service-connected right thumb disability. He also seeks an increased rating for his right thumb disability and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his active service and have denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence being submitted and a need for a more contemporaneous VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, hypertension, and an inner ear disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and detached left eye retina, both claimed as secondary to PTSD, are denied.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for service connection of the veteran's claimed disabilities cannot be earlier than March 22, 2001 as no claims were received prior to this date.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection was also granted for diabetes mellitus Type 2 as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran's hypertension is not service connected.