Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before a local RO hearing officer, and not a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment provided at Grays Harbor Hospital beginning on March 27, 2009 are granted due to the emergent nature of his condition and the unfeasibility of using VA facilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking it to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The medical opinions provided do not support a finding that the Veteran's hypertension was related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition secondary to hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for hypertension, including consideration of aggravation by PTSD. The Veteran's onychomycosis claim is also pending.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and review of a VA examination report by an appropriate physician. The Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain and hypertension will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected diabetes mellitus type II was granted, but the Board finds that a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus have been withdrawn. The remaining claims of service connection for disorders of the lumbar spine, knees, feet (claimed as joint pain), and chronic fatigue syndrome are dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic back disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus secondary to PTB is reopened. However, the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active military service or any incident thereof.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed heart disabilities, including atrial fibrillation, mitral regurgitation, and hypertension, were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Veteran does not have high blood pressure or a heart murmur that was incurred in or aggravated by any period of active duty or active duty for training, nor may such be presumed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including glaucoma of the left eye, bladder cancer, cardiovascular disease (including hypertension and residuals of myocardial infarction), and a pulmonary disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not find any link between these conditions and exposure to asbestos or other in-service factors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and degenerative joint diseases of the left ankle, right knee, and lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no competent and credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein. Hypertension was neither caused nor aggravated by a service-connected disability, to include diabetes mellitus, Type 2.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension and COPD was dismissed due to his death.