Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and hypertension are found to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, glaucoma, gout, and residuals of a left knee injury with a contusion are not supported by the evidence. The claim for an initial compensable rating for the residuals of a left inguinal hernia repair is also denied.

The Veteran's lupus was rated at 30 percent prior to December 10, 2004 and at 60 percent since then. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood and fatigue warranted a 30 percent rating. The avascular necrosis of the right femoral head with acetabular degenerative joint disease warranted a 30 percent rating. The pes planus with toe numbness warranted a 10 percent rating, and hypertension was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The claim for service connection for depression remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, thrombocytopenia, and acid reflux. The claim to reopen a previous denial of service connection for chronic tonsillitis was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete information and evidence, including a need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for coronary artery disease with a bypass graft and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and verification of stressor claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. However, the medical evidence does not support a finding of a direct or secondary relationship between his service-connected kidney disorder and his hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor are they proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran does not have hypertension that is attributable to his time in active military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against this claim.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a cardiovascular disorder as there was no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service, and the medical opinions did not establish a link between these disorders and active duty.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for mechanical low back pain, left and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sinusitis, migraine headaches, hypertension, and benign prostatic hypertrophy were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD and determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his service-connected PTSD, render him unemployable. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's conditions to his service-connected condition or any other causal relationship.

The Board has determined that the issue of service connection for hypertension has been rendered moot due to a grant of service connection in an August 2009 rating decision, and therefore, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for GERD and a heart condition, to include hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his active service or service-connected PTSD.