Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a presumptive basis. The Veteran's carotid artery atherosclerosis is not presumed to have been incurred during service, but the Board has found that it was aggravated by active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including insomnia, skin disability, acquired psychiatric disability, low back disability, right leg disability, and right shoulder disability, were not incurred or aggravated by active military service. The claim for hypertension was also denied as it was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's chronic prostatitis is reasonably related to his active service, and the Board grants this claim. The claims for hypertension, left hand degenerative joint disease, and cervical spine degenerative joint disease are also granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is established as service-connected. Service connection for low back disability and right hip (leg) disability is denied.

The Veteran's sebaceous cysts and hypertension are rated at the minimum levels, while his tinnitus is granted service connection. The right shoulder disorder was also found to be incurred in active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have originated during his period of service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issues regarding hearing loss, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records and other relevant medical records. The claims for service connection for hypertension and PTSD will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of hiatal hernia and coronary artery disease have been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing these issues as the appellant has requested withdrawal.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's disabilities necessitate the regular aid and assistance of another person due to her inability to care for some of her daily personal needs and to protect herself from the hazards and dangers of her daily environment, warranting an increase in special monthly DIC benefits based on the need for A&A.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's conditions are service-connected, but the evidence does not show he is in need of regular aid and attendance or permanently housebound.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination in order to determine if her heart condition, including aortic stenosis and aortic insufficiency, as well as hypertension, are related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are related to his service-connected coronary artery disease and type II diabetes mellitus, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for compliant notice and obtaining Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's cause of death is cerebrovascular accident secondary to hypertension, but his service medical records are negative for any findings, complaints, symptoms, or diagnoses of ulcers or hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and denied service connection for a right lower extremity disorder (claimed as the residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and femur) and lumbosacral strain, finding in favor of the Veteran on both hypertension and lumbosacral strain claims.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for hypertension and TDIU have been withdrawn. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not have hypertension during or within one year after his service.