Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's request for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to scheduling issues and representation clarification.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and TDIU due to incomplete records and need for a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD and for a left eye disorder due to hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is not considered to be caused by his service-connected PTSD, but it was aggravated by the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him physically helpless in the performance of daily activities and in protecting himself from everyday hazards, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and glaucoma, finding no evidence of in-service onset or association with service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asbestosis is granted. The claims for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury, stress/nervous condition or PTSD, and hypertension. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after service, and concluded that they are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's nonservice-connected hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of hypertension in service or during the initial post-service year, and there is no medical evidence linking the current diagnosis to exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not found to be a factor in the development of his hypertension.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the right knee and lumbar spine, residuals of a left ankle sprain, arthritis of the right shoulder, body cramps, hepatitis C, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The appeals were dismissed due to lack of evidence or insufficient material.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, residuals of frostbite, or PTSD due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a traveling Veterans Law Judge. The case will be returned to the Board if necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, sensorineural hearing loss, traumatic amputation of the right thumb, hypertension, and tinnitus, are found to be sufficient for a TDIU rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he asserts is a result of exposure to herbicides and as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claim must be remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether his hypertension is related to service or aggravated by his type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred during service and is granted service connection for this condition. The claim of service connection for residuals of cold injury to feet is denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of such injuries.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and granted it, finding that new evidence was received which raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board also found that hypertension is not related to active duty military service.