Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's debt caused by the payment of VA benefits during his period of active duty service from February 3, 2003 to May 14, 2004 was properly created. The Board found that the Veteran was not entitled to receive VA compensation benefits while on active duty and thus the overpayment was valid.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for service-connected left ankle disability, service connection for hypertension (secondary to service-connected left ankle disability), and whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for a heart disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The claims will be readjudicated after these opinions are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, heart disability, and bilateral knee disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VCAA notice letter regarding his service connection claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for atrial fibrillation that he believes is secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The Board has decided the case should be remanded to obtain additional medical records and possibly a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for hypertension, a digestive system disorder, multiple joint pain, and depression. The appeals are now substantiated.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, hepatitis C, and a gastrointestinal disorder. The Board denied the remaining claims of service connection for low back, headache, sinus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, chronic nephritis, endocarditis, brain thrombosis, and cardiovascular disease were all denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, increased disability rating for PTSD, and increased (compensable) disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that hypertension was incurred during service or within one year after service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for postoperative residuals of bilateral inguinal hernia, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and peritoneal adhesions, all adjudicated on a direct basis without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor can they be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims.

The Board finds that the reduction in rating for hypertension from 60% to 10% was proper. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, hypertension, and hand tremors are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, neuropathy, retinopathy, renal failure, and a foot ulcer due to lack of evidence verifying the Veteran's presence in Vietnam. The new evidence received since July 2002 is cumulative and redundant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of the Veteran's hypertension claim, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, and his erectile dysfunction does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The appeal is denied.