Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2007

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for chronic hypertension, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder to include GERD, and a chronic kidney disorder; the assignment of an initial 20 percent evaluation for his Type II diabetes mellitus with cataracts; and the assignment of initial 10 percent evaluations for his right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, hypertension, osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, and chronic colds/allergies due to asbestos exposure have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is no current diagnosis of hepatitis. Hypertension was not shown in service or within one year after discharge. Osteoarthritis of the right and left knees were not shown in service or during the first year post-service, and there is no competent medical evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral leg disability, bilateral shoulder disability, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, eye disability, and psychiatric disability (nervous condition) have been denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C and other disabilities.,The veteran seeks service connection for disability due to exposure to Agent Orange. He also seeks secondary service connection for hypertension and cardiomyopathy related to his PTSD.,The veteran requests an increased evaluation for his right thoracotomy residuals, and a higher rating for his PTSD.,He is seeking an effective date earlier than November 8, 2002 for the addition of his spouse as a dependent. He also seeks review of the April 1971 decision denying service connection for tuberculosis.,,,,

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to clarify whether the appellant's hypertension is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and IBS, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his period of active service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides. The Board also found that there is insufficient medical evidence to support a secondary service connection claim based on PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an eye disorder, finding that new evidence did not establish a clear link to service or aggravation by service. The claim for residuals of a stroke was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, including hypertension, and an increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claims. The GERD with hiatal hernia claim was granted based on secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected nervous disorder, and therefore, denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining verification of service periods and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of the veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a chronic sleep disorder due to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, heart condition, and high cholesterol. Service connection was granted for pes planus but not for mechanical low back pain or pancreatitis with removal of gall bladder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for hypertension and an initial rating higher than 30 percent for major depressive disorder with post-traumatic stress disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more at any time during the appeal period for hypertension. For the major depressive disorder claim, the Board found that while the veteran had significant psychiatric symptoms and continued to experience depression, his GAF scores were consistently within the range indicative of moderate impairment.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria. The appeal regarding service connection for generalized arthritis of multiple joints was also denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected renal disease, status post renal transplant and status post coronary artery bypass graft and hypertension, finding that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis, hypertension, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and acute gastroenteritis as these conditions were not shown to be related to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation, and there was insufficient medical evidence to link any current conditions to his military service.

The veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially contributed to, a disability incurred in service. The basic eligibility requirements for DEA under Chapter 35 have not been met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development of his claims.