Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn regarding hypertension. The Board finds that the evidence does not support service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, GERD, chronic joint pain of all major joints, shortness of breath, bleeding gums, frequent diarrhea, or chronic headaches as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's hypertension was not service-connected, and his PTSD, tinnitus, left wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and face shrapnel wound were all denied increased ratings.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for memory loss and fatigue, as well as increased ratings for hemorrhoids and a left wrist disability.,Right ear hearing loss was not shown in the veteran's service records or within one year of discharge. The VA audiologist found normal right ear hearing throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim. The Board also determined that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hysterectomy, sinus disorder, back disorder, GERD, and allergies. The veteran was not shown to have a current disability related to these conditions that developed in or was aggravated by her military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting low back disorder was aggravated by service, and thus service connection is granted for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims, including obtaining private treatment records from Hillcrest Internal Medicine and any relevant catheterization records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinion and incorrect legal standard application.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for enlarged heart with high blood pressure, stomach disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical joint disease, right arm radiculopathy, left arm radiculopathy, and hypertension as they are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for his skin disorders due to a failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability evaluations or service connection under the applicable rating criteria.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, heart condition, hypertension, hernia, and arthritis were all denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during his military service or that they are related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and clarification of the relationship between his hypertension and his service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The effective date for the grant of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was set at May 8, 2001.

The Board granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and assigned a 10 percent rating effective from January through December 2005. The veteran's hypertension was also granted, but only during the same period.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension, finding no confirmed in-service stressors or verified medical diagnoses. The claim for secondary service connection for hypertension was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied these claims. The claim for hypertension is secondary to a service-connected disability but was also denied.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension, as well as her claim for TDIU, all for accrued benefits purposes. The evidence of record at the time of the veteran's death did not show that his arteriosclerotic heart disease or hypertension warranted a higher rating.