Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for his low back disability were both denied by the Board. The veteran was not shown to have had hypertension during service or within a presumptive period, nor did he meet the criteria for a higher rating under the current VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor is it related to any service-connected disability. The left knee osteoarthritis is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling and a higher rating is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of residuals, right little finger injury and service connection for hypertension. The claim for PTSD was addressed in a separate REMAND portion.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA Agent Orange protocol examination report and private medical records, as well as a need for supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death (acute myocardial infarction) was not related to his service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and heart disease are at least as likely as not caused by or a result of his service-connected PTSD, granting secondary service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type-2 and hypertension are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide VCAA-compliant notice on the applications to reopen his service connection claims for a low back strain and bronchitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is denying his claim for service connection. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination to determine if any current respiratory conditions are related to the veteran's active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension does not warrant a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria, as his blood pressure readings do not consistently meet the criteria for a 10% disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disability, hypertension, bronchitis, arthritis, and hearing loss. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a detailed employment history from the veteran and scheduling him for appropriate VA examination(s) to determine his employability given his non-service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including verification of in-service stressors and VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cerebrovascular disease and hypertension are not related to service or his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for a respiratory disability and hypertension as they are not etiologically related to service or service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected diabetes and to determine the nature and etiology of several other claimed disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, Crohn's disease, and schizophrenia as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the claim for DIC under section 1318 is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a higher rating for hypertension, finding no error in the January 9, 2006 decision.