Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's current cardiovascular disability, including hypertension, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service and could not be presumed to be related to military service. The claim was denied as there is no competent evidence linking current hypertension to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service and is unrelated to his period of military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and thus the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete service records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for heart disorder, including congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and ischemic heart disease were denied. His claim for an initial higher rating for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, and a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is linked to his military occupational duties as an operating room specialist. His hypertension was noted in service with elevated blood pressure readings. His lumbar spine disability is also linked to service. For the initial rating period prior to September 26, 2003, a higher initial evaluation for cervical spine disability than 10 percent has been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and a heart murmur, with the latter being secondary to hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to have existed prior to service and did not worsen during service. Service connection for a heart murmur was also denied as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently evaluated at a 10 percent disability rating, and the claim for an increased rating has been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, residuals of a fracture of the left leg, and various knee disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board found no credible evidence to support the appellant's claim that the Veteran served in Vietnam and thus, there was no basis for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure. The cause of death was determined to be metastic lung cancer, but it is not shown by the competent evidence of record to have been etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease, hypertension, and coronary artery disease did not manifest during his military service or were not aggravated by any period of active duty for training. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, PTSD, hypertension, skin growths, right hand neuropathy, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, kidney stones, and vision problems. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded due to incomplete service records and a failure to request records from his second period of active service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sinusitis, hypertension and bilateral leg disabilities. The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development of his claims.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his active service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the feet and left upper extremity have been granted increased ratings, with the right foot receiving a 40 percent rating since May 17, 2005. The Veteran's right upper extremity received a 30 percent rating since December 18, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a kidney disorder have been denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service.