Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, sleep disturbance (secondary to PTSD), and hypertension. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his time in service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded for further examination and development due to incomplete service medical records.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus the claim for secondary service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected tachycardia is not associated with his CAD and hypertension, which are both determined to be secondary to the service-connected condition. The Board finds that a compensable evaluation for tachycardia is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The preponderance of the evidence is against a causal relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for an examination to determine if his hypertension, heart disease, and high cholesterol are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's other claims remain pending and will be addressed in the remand portion of this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service treatment records and VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected hemorrhoids, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for hypertension, and there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for Meniere's disease, meningioma (claimed as headaches), or dizziness/vertigo.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for hypertension and service connection for a cardiac disability manifested by palpitations and fluttering, to include as secondary to service-connected hypertension, were denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating for hypertension is appropriate, and there was no evidence of a chronic underlying cardiovascular disability separate from the service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant's claim for accrued benefits is denied due to late filing.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected sinusitis and hypertension, as well as the reopening of a claim for service connection for high cholesterol (now claimed as secondary to service-connected hypertension), were denied by the Board. The decision also noted that the Veteran had not been provided proper notice regarding the evidence necessary to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for high cholesterol.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and left hip disorder were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service. The claims for secondary service connection due to a service-connected left ankle disability were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, resulting in a denial of these claims.

The Veteran's claimed renal, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and erectile dysfunction were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The RO denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to hypertension and varicose veins, as these conditions were not found to be a primary or contributing cause of death. The appellant did not provide evidence that would overturn the RO's decision.