Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and did not reopen the claim for gout with hyperuricemia due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's hypertension was rated at 10 percent prior to June 9, 2006 and denied for a higher rating beginning on that date.

The veteran's service connection claims for compression fractures of L4 and L5, a pinched nerve in the upper back, and PTSD are pending. The increased evaluation claim for PTSD is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records that need to be obtained before further adjudication can occur.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it may be presumed to have been incurred in active military service. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), with the presumption of service connection based on exposure to herbicides. The skin disorder claim remains pending.

The Board found that the evidence did not connect the veteran's hypertension to his time in service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and heart disease, diagnosed as coronary artery disease, were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO via video teleconferencing. The remaining issues on appeal will be deferred pending the veteran's testimony.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded to the RO for further development, including additional medical inquiry. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension. The claims for service connection for glaucoma, hepatitis C, and PTSD have been addressed, with the PTSD claim resulting in a grant of a disability rating of 70 percent. The TDIU claim has also been restored.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension, but it is not established as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The direct service connection theory cannot be supported due to a lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a bilateral foot disorder, and a left lower extremity disorder. The claim for PTSD was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure. The claim for residuals of a right foot injury was not addressed as it is not related to service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of any permanent increase in severity during service and that the condition was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking any service-connected disability to the veteran's death.

The Board granted increased evaluations for the right knee injury and lumbar spine disability, effective from specific dates. The hypertension was also granted a separate evaluation.,A compensable evaluation (greater than zero percent) was granted for the veteran's right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence showing a direct link between his military service and his current condition.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of hypertension was denied, and his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus is pending. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatic fever with residuals, finding that there was no evidence of rheumatic fever during service and insufficient medical nexus opinions to establish a relationship between current disabilities and military service.