Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The veteran's prostate cancer is service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides, while his right ear hearing loss and hypertension are not. Tinnitus has been reopened and granted on the merits.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and its complications were denied as the evidence did not show that he met all eligibility criteria on the effective date of the liberalizing law.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and residuals of a stroke, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The evidence submitted since November 2005 does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, and it does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of the evidence submitted since the last statement of the case.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to a lack of evidence showing that his condition was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glaucoma preexisted her military service and was not aggravated by it. The veteran's bilateral foot disorder, including pes planus and plantar warts, is presumed to have been aggravated by her military service. The veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The veteran's left knee osteoarthritis does not warrant an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent.,The veteran's preexisting bilateral foot disorder was aggravated during active military service.

The veteran's hypertension is not productive of diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more; or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more, and therefore an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension has not been met.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and chronic headaches, to include as secondary to the veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for Achilles tendonitis, gastrointestinal bleed, left shoulder condition, peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status, and evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for chronic myopathy secondary to the use of steroids for a service connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, tinnitus, hair loss, and swelling of the lymph nodes as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension as it was not incurred in or caused by the veteran's active duty and there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service. The claims for asthma, allergies (diagnosed as allergic rhinitis), and gastritis were remanded for further development.

The Board denied the application to reopen a claim for service connection for cause of death, as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board finds that the weight of the competent evidence for and against the claim is in relative equipoise on the question of whether the veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is related to his service, and grants service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability or an increase in severity.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 1, 1994, for the grant of service connection for cortical blindness as a result of a cerebrovascular accident and hypertension.

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and VA clinical records.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine if the veteran's hypertension is related to his service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a prolapsed bladder and a compensable rating for hypertension.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for hypertension and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.