Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The Board has denied service connection for heart disease and hypertension, but the issue of an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), and arthritis. The RO also denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment and denied DIC benefits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to address them on a new and material basis. Additionally, his hypertension claim is also being remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The claim for initial compensable evaluations for hypertension and osteoarthritis of the left knee is pending.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, footdrop, and a bilateral foot disorder as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for increased rating of diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities (hypertension, muscle spasms, and headaches) do not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the onset and etiology of the veteran's hypertension, which may be related to service or post-service. The case will be remanded for further review.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a gunshot wound to the right thigh. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatic fever, heart disability, arthritis of the lumbar spine, peptic ulcer disease, adenocarcinoma of the stomach, hypertension, rhinitis, and sinusitis with headaches. The veteran did not have a diagnosis of rheumatic fever during or after his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected and denied his claims for hypertension, PTSD, and depression.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disability and hypertension due to a need for additional medical evidence. The AOJ will schedule examinations and obtain records to determine if the veteran currently has these conditions that were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus. The effective date for service connection was also denied.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for the cause of death, nonservice-connected death pension benefits, accrued benefits, and burial benefits due to a lack of evidence linking any of the veteran's conditions to his service or qualifying service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including gastrointestinal disorder, hearing loss, right inguinal hernia, back disability, and right knee surgery residuals. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension, as new and material evidence has been received. The claim for service connection for anxiety was also reopened.,Evidence submitted since the September 2003 decision includes medical opinions linking the appellant's current anxiety to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes warranted a 20 percent rating, CAD warranted a 30 percent rating, and hypertension did not warrant any compensable rating. The initial ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left hand and erectile dysfunction were also granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, with the exception of tinnitus which was assigned a 10% evaluation.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred during his active service and denied his claim for service connection.