Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, hypertension, lumbar spine myalgia, and DDD. The Board found that the preexisting back conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further examination and review of his medical records to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and readjudication due to inadequate VA examination reports in 2006 and 2007, which did not consider all of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities in combination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Achilles' heel tear and hypertension are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. Further VA examinations are required.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining evidence of his income between March 28, 2004 and March 19, 2005, and providing VA medical opinions regarding whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, back pain, bunions, groin disorder, diverticulum, and PTSD were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's request for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying all periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The appellant will be scheduled for VA examinations in support of her claims for hypertension, left knee disorder, and low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a personal hearing. The claims of service connection and reopening will be addressed after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent, tinnitus at 10 percent, and hypertension is not service connected.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. However, additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment and was not proximately caused by VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred in combat. Service connection for hypertension, secondary to major depression, was also granted.

The Veteran's death was due to respiratory failure with underlying causes of pulmonary hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea. The VA is requested to provide an opinion on whether the service-connected chronic glomerulonephritis contributed substantially or materially to his death, if it combined to cause death, or aided in producing death.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The claim for hypertension is pending and will be addressed in a separate remand.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected sarcoidosis. The claim for an increased evaluation of osteoporosis of the lumbar spine is denied, but the effective date for TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the May 2006 denial does not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's current conditions are not linked to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension and a prior effective date earlier than June 30, 2008 was denied as his hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are presumed to be the result of Agent Orange exposure during active service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.