Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2006

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his chronic hypertension and PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the veteran's stroke and hypertension are related to his service-connected PTSD.

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 has granted service connection for the portion of hypertension that is aggravated by service-connected nephrolithiasis and has awarded a 100 percent rating for nephrolithiasis.

The veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for the upper gastrointestinal disability (GERD).

The veteran's nicotine dependence, transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder, emphysema, and hypertension are all found to be related to his service. The issues have been granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for numbness in the fingers, skin disorder, impotence, gynecomastia, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board found that the veteran did not have CAD or hypertension during his active duty service and denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including diabetes, hypertension, left arm/hand hemiparesis, and a substance abuse disorder, do not permanently prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. As he failed to report for a VA medical examination without good cause, his claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the appellant is in need of aid and attendance due to her physical and mental incapacity, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect herself from hazards and dangers incident to her daily environment. Aid and attendance benefits are therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and there is no evidence linking any of his current disabilities (pseudofolliculitis barbae, sleep apnea, or hypertension) to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral arterial vascular disease and small cell lymphoma of the lacrimal lens, postoperative as secondary to diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. Service connection for hypertension was denied as not being secondary to diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus with nephropathy is pending.

The veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraines. The TDIU claim remains pending, and the increased rating for headaches on an extra-schedular basis is also pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 14, 2002 for the grant of a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that there was no evidence of an informal claim or written intent to file a claim for service connection before June 14, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred during his military service and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, or arthritis of the left shoulder. The claims for these conditions are denied as they were not incurred in service and there is no evidence linking them to service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of hypertension, low back disorder, or prostate disorder that is related to service. Service connection was denied for all three conditions.