Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Veteran was granted a non-compensable evaluation for his hearing loss in the right ear, but his claim for an initial compensable rating for his hearing loss in the left ear remains denied.

The Veteran meets the requirements for special monthly pension at the housebound rate due to having a single disability rating of 70 percent and a combined nonservice-connected disability rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ulcerative colitis is granted. The claims for tinnitus and the other conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are being reviewed, as is his claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unclear dates of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA and need for VA examinations.

The Board determined that the cause of the Veteran's death, coronary artery disease (CAD), was not caused by or a result of his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that while the Veteran had PTSD and hypertension, neither contributed substantially to his death.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's blood pressure readings did not consistently meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as the earliest factually ascertainable date that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities was June 14, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for Hodgkin's disease and found that the Veteran's current diagnosis is likely related to his period of active service. The issue of an increased disability rating for hypertension remains pending as it requires further examination and review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, congestive heart failure, lung disability, eye disability, peripheral neuropathy, lymphedema, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. The evidence does not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and any heart conditions or hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension began during his active military service and affords him the benefit of the doubt, thus granting service connection for hypertension.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current heart disorder other than hypertension, and thus service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The service-connected anxiety disorder did not cause or contribute to the Veteran's death from acute myocardial infarction and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, hypertension (secondary to diabetes mellitus), a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), sleep apnea (secondary to depression or PTSD), and COPD (secondary to diabetes mellitus). The decision also declined to reopen the claim for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the appellant's failure to appear at a scheduled hearing.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), residuals of a broken right ankle, hypertension, and headaches. The evidence submitted by the Veteran is considered new and material, raising a reasonable possibility that these claims may be substantiated.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart disability, which has been diagnosed as coronary artery disease and hypertension. The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, hay fever, allergies, sinus conditions, lumbar spine disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower leg, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left foot disorder, vertigo, headaches, psychiatric disorder, and hypertension. The Board also denied extraschedular consideration for bilateral hearing loss.