Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to the need for additional VA medical records and a new examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, PTSD, and chloracne due to exposure to herbicide. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen his previously denied claim for hypertension, and that chloracne was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a back disability, finding that no document prior to September 11, 2001, can be construed as a claim to reopen. The decision also addressed the issue of hypertension and noted that a medical opinion was requested but did not include references to previous opinions.

The veteran's hypertension and bilateral eye disability were denied service connection. The claim for reopening the bilateral eye disability was found to have new and material evidence, resulting in a mixed decision.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if hypertension is related to any period of active duty or active duty for training. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and coronary artery disease, is not proximately due to or caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's PTSD, depression, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are all found to be service-connected.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disease, finding that there is no evidence of an increase in severity during service or a link to military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of hypertension or renal disease during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for hypertension and renal disease have been denied.

The veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for various service-connected disabilities and the award of a total rating based on individual unemployability. The case must be remanded to allow for proper VCAA notice, issuance of a Statement of the Case, and readjudication.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for hypertension, as diastolic blood pressure readings did not consistently reach or exceed 120. For the hearing loss claim, the Board noted that an additional VA examination was needed due to the veteran's assertion about the accuracy of his most recent evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension, hepatitis C, and splenomegaly did not develop due to or were not made worse by the April 1990 VA parathyroid surgery or associated VA hospitalization, testing, and treatment.

The Board has granted increased ratings for major depressive disorder and hypertension, but denied an increased rating for postoperative left inguinal hernia. The veteran's major depressive disorder is rated at 50% disabling, while his hypertension remains at a noncompensable rating.

The VA has determined that the veteran's chronic renal disease with hypertension warrants a 30 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The evidence does not support an increase in this evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional evidentiary development, including a VA cardiology examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's hypertension and heart disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current heart disorder, including atherosclerotic heart disease and diastolic hypertension, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or related to a service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for any of the claimed conditions and denied all claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and review of evidence. The veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder will be reconsidered based on the new information.