Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service medical records and scheduling a VA examination for PTSD. The veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and new and material evidence are also being addressed.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for service-connected diplopia and denied any increase in the rating for service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, arterial hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims were also denied regarding reopening of the peripheral neuropathy claims due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for increased evaluations and service connection are moot.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and heart disease, including arteriosclerotic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and status post myocardial infarction. The claim of service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of a diagnosed condition. New evidence submitted reopened the claims for low back disability and psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. Compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were not granted for constipation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, an aneurysm of the brain, and a spinal disability (arthritis of the cervical spine) due to lack of evidence of exposure to Agent Orange in Korea. The conditions were not shown to have had onset during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hypertension (claimed as secondary to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus), and Coronary Artery Disease (claimed as secondary to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus).

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service department certifications of active duty periods and seeking medical records from civilian physicians. The veteran's hypertension and migraines will be evaluated by VA examiners.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a cardiovascular examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's polycystic kidney disease, which contributed to his death in May 2002, was incurred during his period of active service. The cause of death - arteriosclerotic heart disease, chronic renal failure, and hypertension - is also found to be related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, sinusitis and respiratory disorder (claimed as weak lungs), residuals of pneumonia, hypertension, post-operative residuals of a benign fibroma of the right index finger, and residuals of a fracture of the fifth right metatarsal. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the veteran's spinal stenosis, degenerative joint disease, and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of his service-connected schistosomiasis infection. The claims for higher ratings for colitis, proctalgia fugax, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, and cystitis with history of bladder spasm, prostatitis, urethritis were also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran is seeking service connection for coronary artery disease, including hypertension and status post myocardial infarction. The Board has ordered remand due to the need for additional development regarding whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of PTSD, a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, a bilateral knee condition, a thyroid condition, and hypertension. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension are not related to his service-connected right kidney stones, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim of service connection for a cardiac disability was denied as there is no evidence of current heart disease or any link to service.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension, bilateral arm tremors, and right shoulder disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's claim for earlier effective date was denied as the proper effective date is the date of receipt of his claim, which was August 19, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glomerulonephritis with hypertension warrants a 80 percent disability rating, as his condition does not meet criteria for higher ratings.