Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hepatitis C or hypertension related to his service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, VCAA notice, and compliance with Dingess v. Nicholson.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to outstanding medical records and further evaluation.

The veteran's need for regular aid and attendance is not due to his service-connected disabilities, and he does not have one disability rated at 100% disabling. Therefore, the claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right shoulder injury, headaches (claimed as secondary to an in-service motor vehicle accident), swelling of the right leg, and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and active duty service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic allergic and vasomotor rhinitis, with deviation of the septum, and chronic maxillary sinus changes. Service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression secondary to diabetes, CAD, valvular heart disease, acid reflux or GERD, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, intermittent claudication, diabetic retinopathy, left foot and toe disability, psoriasis, and hypertension. The reasons for these denials are provided in the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated during active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The veteran's post-operative residuals of a torn meniscus of the left knee and bilateral hearing loss are currently evaluated at 10 percent each.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected essential hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for hypertension is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a hearing if requested.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II and denied service connection for colon cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran's hypertension was found to be proximately due to his service-connected diabetes, while the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for colon cancer on any basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension in August 1994, which was affirmed by the Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims. The RO again denied the claim in June 1999 on the basis that the information provided had already been considered. The evidence submitted since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The case is being remanded due to the need to obtain records from Social Security Administration (SSA) and for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and service connection for respiratory disorders, vision loss, and hypertension. The decision also noted that a claim of service connection for PTSD was referred to the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus denied his claim for TDIU.

The veteran is seeking an effective date prior to June 12, 2001 for a 40 percent evaluation for his service-connected herniated disc L4-L5 with S1 irritation. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable prior to this date that the criteria for a 40 percent rating were met.,The veteran is also seeking an effective date prior to June 14, 2004 for a 60 percent evaluation for his service-connected herniated disc L4-L5 with S1 irritation. The Board found that it was factually ascertainable as of September 23, 2002, that the criteria for a 60 percent rating were met under new regulations.