Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's death was caused by his underlying condition, COPD with spinal cord compression. The Appellant is seeking to establish service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death or benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a fall as a result of medications prescribed by VA treatment facilities.

The Veteran's hypertension and bilateral eye disability (cataracts) are not service-connected. The erectile dysfunction is rated at the lowest possible compensable rating.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart condition and high blood pressure. The RO has combined these claims as characterized on the title page. A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed disabilities, including ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is a direct complication of his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, and thus grants service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, colon cancer, lung cancer, and liver cancer. The decision found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of a September 2008 VA medical nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension as it relates to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated based on their manifestations due to his diabetes mellitus. The initial ratings for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetic retinopathy, and chronic kidney disease are all granted.

The Board found that the appellant's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and has not been continuous since service. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to lack of qualifying service and the absence of a total disability rating for at least one year prior to his death.

The Veteran's hypertension and heart disease are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected anxiety disorder with panic disorder and depression.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbosacral spine injury residuals, head injury residuals, and hypertension. The Veteran submitted new and material evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a disorder manifested by a knot in the back and hypertension has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 23, 2009 or a rating in excess of 10 percent at any time for his basal cell carcinoma with actinic keratoses.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied as there is no legal basis to grant these claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the RO has granted service connection for diverticulitis and hypertension, effective May 8, 2001.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for hypertension and associated symptoms was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for cardiomyopathy and hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus and hypertension, resulting in a denial of these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service or his service-connected DM, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and hypertension due to potential issues with service connection, exposure history, and medical records. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.