Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the appellant's exposure to chemical dioxins during service, and requests additional information from the service department. The VA is also asked to obtain Social Security Administration records and arrange for a medical examination if necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, hypertension, a heart disorder, skin cancer, sinus disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not establish that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities. The issue will be reconsidered with consideration given to whether he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's benign prostatic hypertrophy, status post transurethral resection is likely due to disease or injury incurred during his active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, hepatitis C, hypertension, and a skin disorder. As such, these matters are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder (coronary artery disease) as aggravated by the service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the appellant's hypertension was first manifested within the initial post separation year.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes, hypertension, left knee disorder, and low back disorder were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service. The pre-existing conditions were known upon entry into service in 2003.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional records and verification of his Vietnam service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease on a direct basis as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's conditions were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine if service connection can be established for hypertension, erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of all extremities.

The Veteran's hypertension claim was denied in July 1992, and he did not file a formal or informal application to reopen the claim prior to July 16, 2001. The Board finds that no earlier effective date can be assigned for the grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and hypertension due to the need for medical examinations and opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case to allow further development regarding service connection for hypertension, including consideration of whether it was first manifested during a period of active duty training with the Texas Army National Guard.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for hypertension secondary to service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus, type II due to incomplete development of his claims file. The AMC/RO must obtain additional treatment records from VA Outpatient Clinic in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, and VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and request a supplemental opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension was not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records.