Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed hypertension. The RO must also provide corrective VCAA notice regarding disability ratings and effective dates.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis and migraines have been withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and chronic fatigue syndrome, with the latter being established by new evidence. Service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the thumbs remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral osteoarthritis of the thumbs, service connection for hypertension, and remanded the issue of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found that the claimed conditions are not related to active service and did not arise from an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension due to the cursory nature of the opinion provided by his private physician.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension on a direct basis, granted a rating of 50 percent for PTSD with anxiety and depressive symptoms and alcohol dependence, but denied entitlement to a TDIU rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, hypertension, body scars (secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain with herniated nucleus pulposus, status post hemilaminectomy), and arthritis (claimed as secondary) have been denied. The evidence submitted does not meet the standard for constituting new or material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased rating for pulmonary tuberculosis and service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and peptic ulcer disease, all of which were secondary to his service-connected pulmonary tuberculosis.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for PTSD, arthritis of the right hand, hypertension, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, or left ankle disability.,An additional VA examination may be necessary to address the etiology of the veteran's hypertension.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not related to his service-connected PTSD. The veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board determined this rating was appropriate based on the symptoms described. The veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for hypertension and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's pyelonephritis of the right kidney is rated at 10 percent, and now meets criteria for a 30 percent rating due to hypertension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and arteriosclerotic heart disease, as well as his claim for restoration of a 40 percent rating for AHD. The RO continued the 10 percent rating for hypertension and decreased the 40 percent rating for AHD to 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and a need for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension, thus denying the application.

The veteran's claims for diabetes, end-stage renal disease, and hypertension due to herbicide exposure are denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in service or a link between the conditions and service.

The veteran's service-connected lymphoma excision scar on the mid anterior right leg is small and barely visible, not causing any functional impairment.,The veteran's service-connected left foot plantar wart does not cause significant discomfort or objective evidence of plantar warts.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a higher rating for lumbosacral strain. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's current hypertension to his service or any service-connected condition, and thus denied service connection on both direct and presumptive bases. For lumbosacral strain, the Board noted that isolated elevated blood pressure readings during service were a normal response to pain, but did not cause sustained hypertension. The Board also found no evidence of aggravation by the veteran's service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for coronary artery disease, including hypertension, and sleep apnea due to a lack of evidence showing sustained symptoms consistent with these conditions during or immediately after service.