Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Board finds that it is as likely as not the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active service and secondary to medication prescribed for a service-connected spleen disorder. Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's hypertension is not productive of diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more. Therefore, the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional medical evidence. The claim will be reconsidered after these requirements are met.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to military service. The claim was denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, dizziness, and a skin rash due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's schedular guidelines, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for heart disease and an increased rating for PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain missing service treatment records, especially those from September 1968 when the Veteran claims he had a heart attack during service. A VA examination will be scheduled to assess the current nature, extent, and severity of his PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including CAD, multiple joint disease of the neck, back and feet, diabetes, hypertension, rheumatic heart disease, and a lung disorder. The Veteran's CAD, multiple joint disease of the neck, back and feet, diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatic heart disease are not considered to be related to service or any other service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied the claims of hypertension and CVA residuals as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetic nephropathy, gouty arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The denial is based on a lack of evidence showing exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicide agents during his naval service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a respiratory disability are granted. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to July 7, 2008 is also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and it is not a chronic disease for which presumptive service connection can be granted. The Board also determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of secondary service connection based on diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic kidney disorder or chronic hypertension, and thus denied service connection for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral hip disability, cervical spine disability, hiatal hernia and deformity with spasticity of duodenal bulb, numbness with burning dysesthesia, degenerative disc disease at L4-5, and radiculopathy of the left leg. The appeal was dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total rating for pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, records review, and reconsideration of his disability ratings under the Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board finds that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (secondary to PTSD), a bilateral foot disorder, and a left shoulder disorder. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his period of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing VA treatment records.