Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, polyneuropathy, bilateral cataracts, TIA and hypertension as they were not shown to be related to his active duty or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The remaining claims for secondary conditions are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and essential hypertension as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or that the conditions were related to active military service.

The Board denied an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent for the service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and denied an initial compensable disability rating between December 3, 2003 and December 18, 2006 and an initial disability rating greater than 10% since December 19, 2006 for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, and a cervical spine disability as there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year of discharge, nor any competent medical evidence linking them to his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities and a higher initial rating for PTSD, as there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for hypertension was denied as the evidence did not show that his systolic or diastolic blood pressure readings met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board remands the case for further development to verify the veteran's reported stressors and potentially schedule an examination.

The Board remands the claims for service connection to the RO for further development and readjudication.

The appeal was remanded to the RO for additional development and a decision on the merits.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a cardiac disorder with hypertension that is attributable to his active military service or caused by his service-connected right knee disability.

The veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability, and the right ear hearing loss is not compensable. The claims for service connection for thoracic spine disability and hypertension are remanded.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, residuals of fractured ribs, left hip and right fifth finger disabilities, a peptic ulcer, hypertension, an upper respiratory infection, renal failure, hyperlipidemia and gastroenteritis were denied as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic hypertension and a chronic back disorder, but granted a 70 percent evaluation for the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for the period prior to April 13, 2004, and a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability as of that date.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but restored a 30 percent rating for atopic dermatitis from September 1, 2006, to September 29, 2006. The reduction of the rating was ultimately upheld as of September 30, 2006.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and lumbar spondylosis as there was no evidence of these conditions during or shortly after the veteran's active service. The claim for vascular disease of the lower extremities is being remanded.

The Board granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. A remand is required to determine if the veteran was on active duty or active duty for training during a specific period and to obtain an examination regarding both hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for several issues, and the remaining claims were denied or dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, to include rheumatic heart disease, and found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claims for a left internal intracanalicular tumor mass as secondary to service-connected rheumatic fever, hypertension on a direct basis, and multiple joint pain.