Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2009

The Board found that hypertension and chronic renal insufficiency were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor are they proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected condition. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease and hypertension has been granted, with the effective date being May 29, 2007. The Veteran is now rated at 60 percent for his coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not due to, caused by, or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of heat stroke and hypertension, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for residuals of heat stroke. The Board also found that there is no medical evidence linking current hypertension to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his service-connected conditions, as he is currently enrolled in full-time college and has a high school education with one year of college. His service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board finds that the VA facilities are geographically accessible and capable of providing the required care, thus denying the Veteran's claim for fee basis medical care.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and other relevant medical evidence. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions, including fibroids, anxiety, leg pain, hypertension, migraine headaches, and chronic bronchitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected depression and other service-connected disabilities, warranting service connection for this condition. The heart disease claim remains pending as it was not addressed in the remand.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as hypertension, were denied. The conditions are rated based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, testicular pain, and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder or hypertension related to his military service and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he contends was caused by his diabetes mellitus. The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for an additional VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, tendonitis, hypertension, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims of PTSD based on in-service personal assault were not substantiated.

The VA has determined that the Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, scleredema of the back, coronary artery disease, hypertension, blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, and a bilateral foot disorder. The appeal involves determining if these conditions are related to exposure to herbicide.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is not proximately due to or the result of his nicotine dependence, and thus denied service connection for hypertension secondary to nicotine dependence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has provided credible lay evidence of stressors in service and these are related to his currently diagnosed PTSD.