Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for nephropathy with hypertension has been denied. The current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, chronic fatigue, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and headaches. The evidence submitted since the July 1991 denial did not provide new or material evidence to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hypertension and gastrointestinal disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his service-connected right shoulder disability. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the hypertension is secondary to the service-connected condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for acne, glaucoma, cataracts, ocular hypertension, epistaxis (nosebleeds), and hyperglycemia due to INH therapy during service. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to a disease associated with military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and COPD, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. The decision is based on a finding that there was no direct evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to the RO/AMC for further action.

The veteran's claim for service connection for cardiopulmonary disease was denied. The RO also determined that the veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for his GERD, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, degenerative joint diseases of the knees, costochondritis, tinnitus, and hemorrhoids.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and affording the veteran an opportunity to provide additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus disability. The claim for pes planus was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether hypertension had its onset during service or within a year of separation, and grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right elbow due to a presumption based on its onset within one year of separation from active duty. The other conditions are not granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting a VA examination to assess the current severity of the veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is denied entitlement to DIC benefits, accrued benefits, and nonservice-connected death pension.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral flat feet were incurred in service, and granted service connection for this condition. For hypertension, which was initially diagnosed post-service, the Board determined it is not related to active duty service.

The veteran died due to multiple health issues, but there is no evidence that any service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for hypertension and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected conditions. The claim for PTSD was granted with an initial rating of 30 percent.