Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's esophageal cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected essential hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule, as his blood pressure readings have consistently been below the threshold required for any of the listed ratings.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension are granted service connection, with the former being established on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective January 14, 2009. The other conditions have been rated as appropriate under the applicable criteria.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and hypertension. For PTSD, the Veteran did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD despite a verified in-service stressor. For hypertension, there is no medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during active duty, is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability, and its incurrence or aggravation during active duty may not be presumed. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension, colon polyp, and hair loss are not shown to be related to service or exposure to ionizing radiation. The Board finds that the competent evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection in these cases.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted. The claims of service connection for bronchitis, hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, ulcers, and hemorrhoids were also denied. Service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, wrist, and elbow disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing to be scheduled at the RO. The issues of service connection for hypertension, rating for left knee reconstruction, and rating for limited motion of the left knee are pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by his service. The weight of the competent and credible evidence is against finding that these conditions began during his military service or are related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered together, are sufficient to render him unable to reliably perform gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that his blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and left knee bursitis were denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD with depression was set at March 24, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a dental disability of the bottom teeth due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service. The Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination also contributed to the denial.

The Veteran's low back disability and right forearm injury with a large fatty tumor are not service-connected.,There is no evidence of herbicide or ionizing radiation exposure during service, nor any diagnosed skin condition on hands and arms. The Veteran's claimed disabilities do not meet the criteria for service connection based on these exposures.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with a pulmonary disorder related to service, asbestos exposure, or second-hand tobacco smoke.,There is no evidence of a current disability characterized by general malaise or headaches that can be linked to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for tinnitus or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/chronic bronchitis/emphysema, and there was no indication of service connection based on exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and to determine if his current hernia disability may be related to his active duty military service.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension or residuals from right hand burn injuries in service, and the Veteran has not provided competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. As such, service connection for both conditions is denied.