Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for esophagitis, hiatal hernia, and a cardiovascular disability (including hypertension) have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess his current condition and employment status.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder but denied the request for an increased rating for hypertension with renal involvement. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating based on persistent albuminuria and edema.

The appellant's appeal was dismissed as he did not file a timely substantive appeal to the June 16, 2004 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain VA treatment records and for medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board also found that hypertension is not etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected proteinuria did not cause his death, and the causes of his death (coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, nephritis, and hypertension) were not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying periods of active duty for training in the Reserve. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and hypertension are under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on his blood pressure readings not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine condition was not found to warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, the low back disability with degenerative disc disease did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation, ureterolithiasis was rated at 10 percent prior to March 14, 2001 and above 10 percent thereafter, plantar fasciitis and heel spur of the right foot were rated as non-compensable, and hypertension was not found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hypertension related to service and denied his claim. The issue of PTSD is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, right ankle disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and hypertension. The evidence received since the August 2000 rating decision is new and material with respect to these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbosacral degenerative disc disease have been granted. The hypertension is rated at zero percent; the right lower extremity radiculopathy at ten percent before August 20, 2007 and twenty percent after that date; and the lumbosacral degenerative disc disease at twenty percent effective July 6, 2009.

The Board found that the appellant's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that hyperlipidemia is not a disability for VA compensation purposes and thus cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has ordered the VA to attempt to obtain the Veteran's complete service medical records, including his 1969 Navy recruitment physical examination. A VA examination is also required to determine if the Veteran's current hypertension is related to his military service.