Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, as new and material evidence has been received. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The veteran's claims for hypertension and arthritis of both knees were denied as they are not shown to be related to service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his claimed hearing loss, back disorder, and pulmonary disorders. The issues of service connection for hypertension and a psychiatric disorder are also being remanded.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his employment status and medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, anxiety, an eye disorder, a cold weather injury of the left lower extremity, and a stomach condition. The reasons include lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service onset.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that new evidence did not warrant reopening of the claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the hypertension claim. The Board also found that diabetes mellitus is not related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's renal insufficiency with hypertension and heart disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the previous final denial does not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, an eye disorder including residuals of a left eye injury, and hypertension. As such, these claims are not reopened.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, varicose veins, or a disability due to drug and alcohol use. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records, and the veteran's claims for heat stroke disability and cardiovascular disease are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, GERD, hypertension, or IBS. The claims have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and granted a 10% rating for hypertension, finding that the veteran's current symptoms are well-controlled by medication.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions and denied his claims for non-service-connected death pension benefits and accrued benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder disorder, recurrent lower back pain, and bilateral foot disorder (claimed as bilateral plantar fasciitis and hallux valgus). The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches was not addressed due to pending issues.

The Board has granted the request to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee condition. The veteran's current medical evidence supports the presence of a current disability and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to any in-service condition. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and hyperlipidemia were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claims for service connection have been denied.