Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection for the other conditions listed, including back disability and residuals of a left eye disability, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection will be considered on a de novo basis if the Veteran attends the scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of his service connection claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bronchitis did not cause or contribute to his death, as other causes such as hypertension and coronary artery disease were more significant.

The Veteran's hypertension with chronic renal insufficiency, associated with recovered acute meningitis, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from December 17, 1999 to November 14, 2008.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete information and missing medical records.

The Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not service-connected, and the Board denied all claims. The Veteran's retinopathy did not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's back disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left leg disorder.,The Veteran's hypertension was not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected edema.

The Veteran seeks service connection for coronary artery disease with history of myocardial infarction, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The issues of service connection for heart disease and hypertension as secondary to PTSD and special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to lack of Vietnam service and need further investigation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and lack of rationale in the July 2007 VA examination report.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 17, 1997 for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied. The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent since December 17, 1997 and no higher. The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the right knee with scarring has been rated at 20 percent from July 23, 1998 to August 23, 2007 and at 30 percent since August 24, 2007.

The Board found that VA did not exercise negligence or lack of proper skill in prescribing the wrong medication, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues include service connection for hypertension, foot fungus, skin cancer, and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes type II.

The Board found no evidence of the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, and thus denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension as secondary to such exposure. The Board also noted that diabetes mellitus was not shown within one year after separation from active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea were all incurred during his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension, which he claims developed during his military service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes and its complications are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by service, or by a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.