Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various conditions, including a right knee disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and residuals of cold injury. The issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing benefits due to his combined disability rating and employment status.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and hypertension, finding that there was insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for aid and attendance benefits was granted, effective from May 28, 2003. The Appellant is seeking retroactive compensation due to the allowance of increased benefits based on aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to headaches and joint pain, as well as other claims.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorder, and hypertension as the evidence did not show a nexus to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a low back disability prior to May 6, 2003 was denied. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent after May 6, 2003 was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disease (claimed as cardiomegaly), and sleep apnea. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been presented to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by the Veteran's active service and is not proximately due to his service-connected nicotine dependence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of hypertension, PTSD, a pre-thyroid disorder, and sinusitis/upper respiratory infections have been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred in service and granted service connection. The issues of hypertension, asthma, and prostatic hypertrophy secondary to Agent Orange exposure are also addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, any injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The causes of his death were deemed contributory but not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, unclear nature of his claimed conditions, and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for recurrent epistaxis and hypertension due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Veteran's right great toe arthritis is granted, but his other conditions remain under review.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not submit new and material evidence to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as all submitted evidence is duplicative or redundant of previous evidence.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not diagnosed until after service, and there is no evidence of a nexus to service. The presumption of herbicide exposure does not apply.,The RO denied diabetes mellitus in October 1986, but new evidence has been submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Veteran's diabetes was not diagnosed until after service and there is no evidence of a nexus to service or herbicide exposure.,The RO denied hypertension with chest pain in October 1986, but new evidence has been submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Veteran's hypertension was not diagnosed until after service and there is no evidence of a nexus to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for prostatitis, bladder discomfort with dribbling, decreased sex drive, and hypertension on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Veteran's son was not diagnosed with spina bifida.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for reimbursement of unauthorized, non-VA medical expenses incurred on November 1-2, 2005 at a private hospital due to lack of emergency circumstances and failure to obtain prior authorization.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service records are unavailable and additional development is needed to determine if he had any in-service disabilities or symptoms. The claims will be remanded for further action.