Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spinal disability is rated at 40 percent since April 2, 2008. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not serve in Vietnam and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange. The Board also found that his claimed conditions were not present during service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to his active service.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to accrued benefits. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of higher evaluations or a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension were not incurred in service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and whether they are related to his military service. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current hypertension and Paget's disease to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for hypertension cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for a skin disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and coronary artery disease have all been denied as there is no competent or credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's PTSD and hypertension have been granted service connection, with the PTSD being related to fear of hostile military activity in the Persian Gulf War Theater of operations.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of a VA examiner's opinion regarding herbicide exposure and its impact on service connection. The Veteran died from metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder and hypertension, both of which are being reviewed in light of potential service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have persisted since. Obesity was not found to be related to service. Other conditions were also found to be related to service.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's claims, including a new VA spine examination and evaluations for diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Schizoaffective Disorder and Hypertension are related to her military service, with the onset of symptoms during her period of active duty from September 1981 to October 1992. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's hypertension is not manifested by diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101. The claim has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and hypertension, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, were denied. The evidence did not establish a medical relationship between the disabilities and either service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's hypertension and hypertensive heart disease are service-connected.,The Veteran's intertrigo of the groin is service-connected.,The Veteran's tinea pedis (skin rash on the feet) is not service-connected.