Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus with hypertension, dermatophytosis, and bilateral hearing loss effective June 27, 2005. The Veteran's claims were filed on the same day as these determinations.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic thoracic spine disorder or hypertension that had its clinical onset during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, skin disorder, and prostate irregularity are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show any in-service diagnosis or treatment for these conditions, and there is no credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the criteria for an initial compensable rating for hypertension have not been met, and did not find any other issues warranting a higher or earlier effective date.

The Veteran and his representative have requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, including the entitlement to service connection for hypertension, vascular disorder, and renal disorder. As a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for right ankle/foot disorder, left ankle disorder, and hypertension. The conditions were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure.,There was insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran had pre-existing conditions prior to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and sinusitis have been granted service connection, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, residuals of typhoid fever, liver disease, sepsis, right kidney removal, and hypertension. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be as likely as not attributable to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and hypertension contributed to his death from respiratory failure, making them contributory causes of death. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated, with the exception of the residuals of right tibia stress fractures and pseudofolliculitis barbae, which are assigned noncompensable ratings. The RO has granted a 10 percent rating for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorder were not incurred or aggravated during his active service. The evidence did not establish a chronic condition prior to separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to PTSD. The Board's decision granting other benefits has been finalized.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current evidence of a bilateral ankle disability, and the Veteran did not have any other disabilities related to his period of active duty.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for his service-connected end stage renal disease and also denied his claims regarding initial disability ratings for hypertension, bilateral cataracts, reopening of previously denied claims for rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with emphysema, and pancreatitis.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension, including whether it is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.