Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was received on December 21, 2004. The effective date of the award is set at this date as there was no pending claim before then and it has been more than one year since separation from active service.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of hypertension, sinusitis, breathing problems, and diabetes mellitus type II on record before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have current diagnoses for hemorrhoids, a neck disorder, or vision problems. Service connection is denied for these conditions as they are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current hypertension is causally related to his right ankle injury or surgery in 1991.

The Board has granted an evaluation of 20 percent for the appellant's service-connected Raynaud's phenomenon disability and a 10 percent initial evaluation for hypertension, both effective from the date service connection was granted.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension had been received, but denied the de novo issue of entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right hand and hypertension, finding that these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected back disability. The claim to reopen the neck disability was denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by a service-connected disability, and the Board finds no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The cause of death listed on his certificate is acute coronary insufficiency, which is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's treatment was of such a nature that a reasonably prudent person would expect that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be hazardous to life or health, and thus payment or reimbursement by VA is warranted for medical services incurred with Knox Cardiology Associates between March 30, 2006, and April 4, 2006.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a heart condition, finding that the new evidence submitted was not material and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requires further development before deciding on the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were not incurred in or related to service.

The Board has determined that service connection for hypertension is not warranted as there is no competent evidence relating the diagnosis to any injury or disease in service. The veteran's post-service onset of hypertension is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that service connection for hypertension, claimed as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus is not warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, back disability, thyroid disability, bilateral heel spurs, and acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that service connection for hypertension is not warranted as there is no competent evidence relating the diagnosis to any injury or disease in service. The veteran's post-service onset of hypertension is not related to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertension were found to warrant a 60 percent rating from January 22, 1997, until July 30, 1999. After that date, the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder were not incurred or aggravated during his active service, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed with respect to his claims for service connection for breathing problems, chronic fatigue syndrome, dermatitis and follicular occlusion syndrome of the neck, back and belt line, joint pain including neck, back, and legs, muscle aches, allergy to chemicals, incontinence, and chronic sinusitis. As such, these issues are dismissed.