Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, asthma or breathing problems due to an undiagnosed illness, and joint and muscle pain due to an undiagnosed illness. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that an examination is necessary to address the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, including whether it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The case will be remanded for this purpose and further development as needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as his claim to reopen a previously-denied cirrhosis of the liver/liver transplant claim. The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy was also denied.

The Veteran's spouse is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to her various disabilities, as she can perform most self-care and activities of daily living with some assistance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cardiovascular disabilities are denied as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and the gap between onset and service is significant.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension. The Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine if his current hypertension is related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a head injury, to include cognitive and mood disorder and depression and anxiety, were permanently aggravated by service. The claim for hypertension is remanded as there is insufficient medical evidence addressing whether it had its onset during or within one year of his separation from active service in June 2003.

The Veteran's sciatic neuritis is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder. The Board also finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 60 percent, which warrants consideration of an extraschedular rating due to unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated in service and is unrelated to his service-connected nicotine dependence.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD, and the skin condition is considered to have had its clinical onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's case is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining recent treatment records. The Veteran may be housebound or require aid and attendance based on his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, COPD due to asthma and chronic sinusitis, was not caused by a service-connected disability. The Veteran did not have a continuously rated total disability for at least ten years prior to his death or qualify as a former prisoner of war. Therefore, the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a physical examination report and verifying claimed stressors. The issues of increased rating for renal insufficiency with hypertension and service connection for PTSD are also pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and social and industrial survey to determine his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension was denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim of service connection for skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and benign growths (claimed as a result of herbicide exposure) was also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and hypertension. The claim of service connection for tinnitus is REMANDED to the RO.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and mitral valve prolapse due to exposure to herbicides. Service connection is granted based on presumptive exposure.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.