Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right arm and shoulder disability, claimed as secondary to his left shoulder disability, cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the BUE, psychiatric disability, vision loss, hypertension, sexual dysfunction, and bilateral feet problems are all denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hypertension or chronic residuals from eye surgery for VA purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition, including aortic valve disease and hypertension. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected post-operative herniated disc at L5-S1, finding that there is no reliable evidence establishing a relationship between the two.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical evidence regarding the appellant's current condition and its impact on her ability to require regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and the claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate. The Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension was not established during active military service, nor within one year thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and hypertension, as well as his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, have been dismissed due to the Veteran indicating that he is satisfied with the recent increases in ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical treatment records and a more current VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hypertension can be reasonably disassociated from his military service and is therefore granted as a result of in-service onset.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of Social Security Administration records.

The Board found that the Veteran's unsatisfactory conduct and cooperation in developing a rehabilitation plan, coupled with lack of mitigating circumstances, justified discontinuing his vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of these conditions in service or for many years thereafter. Service connection was denied on a direct basis.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's initial evaluation for PTSD remains at 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including osteoarthritis of the right hip and knee, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (claimed as a heart disorder), left hip dislocation, ocular hypertension, urethra neuritis, and prostate cancer. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims for secondary service connection are denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran is granted special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to multiple service-connected disabilities. However, he does not qualify for housebound benefits as his combined disability rating exceeds 60%.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was incurred in service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for asthma, effective from the date of the decision.