Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims, including a VA examination for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and eye disabilities. The appeal will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that a new VA medical opinion is needed to address the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as it relates to his diabetes mellitus. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia and pain and numbness in the upper and lower extremities, secondary to service-connected disabilities of the spine were granted. His claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for hypertension was denied. The effective date for his award of a 100% disability rating for coronary artery disease was set at June 10, 2002. He also received a TDIU rating.

The veteran's prostate enlargement is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum available under VA rating criteria.,The veteran's degenerative changes of the right knee are currently rated at 10 percent prior to June 15, 2006 and 30 percent beginning on that date. The current ratings for the left knee remain unchanged.,The veteran's residuals of frostbite of the right foot have been rated at 20 percent since August 4, 1998, with no higher rating available under VA criteria.,The veteran's residuals of frostbite of the left foot were initially rated at 10 percent prior to September 21, 2000 and remain at that level. A higher evaluation is not warranted due to lack of supporting evidence.,The veteran's hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since June 1, 1998, with no higher rating available under VA criteria.,The veteran's tinea cruris was initially rated at 10 percent prior to June 1, 1998 and remains unchanged.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the VCAA notice and because of missing service medical records. The veteran's hypertension claim will be reviewed again after obtaining additional evidence.

The claim of service connection for Eustachian tube dysfunction has been reopened, but the claim remains denied. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim of service connection for hypertension is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims due to missing service medical records and incomplete treatment history. The claims will be further developed before being decided.

The Board found no service connection for the cause of death.,The appellant's DIC claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied as the veteran did not meet the criteria for total disability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hypertension, finding that it is as likely as not related to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus and aggravating it. Service connection for this condition is now granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 19, 2003 for the award of nonservice-connected pension benefits due to the veteran's diagnosis with coronary artery disease on that date. The earlier effective date is based on her hospitalization and subsequent diagnosis.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is likely due to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence does not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for IBS/GERD and found that hypertension and PVD were not service-connected, with the reasons provided.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hypertensive heart disease and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors. Service connection was also denied for jungle rot and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, right knee disability, left eye disability, thyroid disorder, chronic headaches, residuals of chest injury, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted. He was assigned a 10 percent evaluation for each condition effective from February 8, 1999.