Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including clarification of representation and potential rescheduling of a hearing.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the appellant's current conditions to his military service or any incident therein, including exposure to chemical dioxins. Therefore, service connection for all claimed conditions was denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound was denied. The denial is due to insufficient evidence showing that he requires aid and attendance or is substantially confined to his home.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional STRs and VA records, as well as SSA disability determination records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, low back disability, right and left lower extremity disabilities were denied. The Board finds that further development is needed to determine the validity of these claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues except for the lung disorder, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The Board dismissed these claims due to the Veteran's withdrawals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service, including exposure to biological experiments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, COPD, hypertension, and CAD are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for depression, a visual defect, and hypertension have been withdrawn. The claims for migraine headaches, seizures, and low sperm count due to radiation exposure are dismissed as unsupported by the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection and disability rating remain on hold until further notice.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be aggravated by her service-connected hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and hormone replacement therapy, thus warranting secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back disability did not cause or aggravate his claimed hypertension. The Board also found that there is no evidence of permanent worsening of the Veteran's chronic hypertension due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, thus denying secondary service connection for hypertension. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity weakness was granted as a result of the Veteran's spinal cord injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical arthritis does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to June 24, 2007 and does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent as of June 24, 2007. The Veteran's hypertension has also been evaluated at 10 percent since August 25, 2003.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension in service or until more than 10 years after service, and concluded that the Veteran's current hypertension is not related to service or a service-connected condition. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a thoracotomy, but denied the claim of service connection for hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD or diabetes mellitus, and denied the claim for service connection. The tinnitus claim is also denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent.