Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to his service-connected right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cardiovascular disability, including hypertension, was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to his military service.

The veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension were granted service connection, with effective date of April 18, 2003. The claim for an earlier effective date for COPD was denied.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a permanent and total disability rating for VA pension purposes.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Cervical Spine, Radiculopathy of the Left Shoulder/Arm, Headaches, Hypertension, and Corneal Abrasion of the Right Eye) meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined 80% disability rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, but a remand is required to address the merits of the underlying claim.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without providing adequate explanation or good cause.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found that the effective date for the TDIU should be December 19, 2002, as this was the earliest date on which it could be factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and is not related to his service-connected back disability. Therefore, service connection for hypertension was denied.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and are not proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus; PTSD; bilateral hearing loss; and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a link between any of these conditions and active service.

The veteran seeks service connection for hypertension and stroke, both to include as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the relationship between the veteran's service-connected conditions and his claimed disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and Hypertension effective January 31, 2003. The veteran's claims were previously denied in final decisions but reopened on January 31, 2003.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VCAA notice. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the veteran's death was related to his service-connected disabilities or a disability of service origin. The appellant is also referred for consideration of additional claims under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 and paragraph 29 benefits.

The Board finds that the veteran's hypertension, cardiovascular disorder, and erectile dysfunction are not related to his service-connected PTSD. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and cardiomyopathy with heart failure. The issues remain pending for further review.