Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension did not begin in service and was not caused by or permanently worsened by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and finds no basis for granting service connection in any of these cases.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The veteran's hypertension is presumed to have been incurred during his active military service.

The veteran claims that his current hypertension began during service. The Board has ordered additional development to determine the onset of the condition and whether it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has not determined whether the veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are related to his military service, but has remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the validity of the veteran's PTSD claim and to establish whether hypertension is secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's bronchitis was not incurred in service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension, dermatitis around the mouth, psoriasis of the arms and legs, and left knee disability were not caused by his active military service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's essential hypertension, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty. The Board also found that these conditions are not etiologically related to service-connected disability.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the veteran's cardiac arrhythmia and hypertension are related to his service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a scheduled video-conference hearing. The issues of increased ratings for specific disabilities are also referred back to the RO.

The Board found that the veteran's current hypertension did not begin in service, was not caused by any incident of service, and was not caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and hypertension as secondary to PTSD. The in-service stressor event was not corroborated, and new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his blood pressure readings have never been at levels sufficient to warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to deficiencies in the examination reports and need for further development of his PTSD claim. The claims for psoriasis, PTSD, arteriosclerotic heart disease with hypertension, and a compensable rating for residuals of a pilonidal cyst will be deferred pending resolution of the PTSD claim.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center from January 25, 2003 to January 27, 2003 was denied as the conditions did not require immediate medical attention.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, as the veteran passed away on May [redacted], 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, finding that the veteran's symptoms are chronic and continuous since his military service.