Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hypertension is related to service or manifested within the first post-service year.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The non-treatment claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for the cause of death, nonservice-connected death pension benefits, and accrued benefits due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's death to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Rockingham Memorial Hospital from February 3, 2007 to February 7, 2007 was denied because he did not meet the requirement that he had received VA treatment within the 24-month period prior to the private treatment.

The Veteran's cause of death is Alzheimer's disease, with hypertension and benign prostatic hypertrophy as other significant conditions. The Appellant contends that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Korea, which caused or aggravated his diabetes mellitus, leading to his death. The Board has conceded exposure to herbicides but requires a medical opinion on whether the hypertension is due to or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Air National Guard and considering a statement from Dr. N.O. regarding the Veteran's hypertension condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability and hypertension are related to his military service, including presumed herbicide exposure. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the effect of his service-connected bilateral pes planus on his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing an original claim was filed prior to July 25, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, headaches, and low back disorders as the evidence did not support a medical nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions.