Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is causally related to her service-connected aortic insufficiency and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disorder, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, and stroke. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he contends is related to his service-connected sleep apnea. The Board finds that a VA examination and opinion are needed to determine the relationship between hypertension and service or service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, CAD, and hypertension were not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and finds that new evidence supports a finding that the Veteran had hypertension in service, which is now considered to be incurred therein.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and allergies have been denied. The claim for hypertension has not yet been adjudicated.,Further examination or evidence may be necessary to address the hypertension claim.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for scheduling a hearing and further development as requested by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an acoustic neuroma, left ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and thyroid tumor are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's death was caused by a ruptured thoracoabdominal aneurysm, which the VA physician opined may have been related to his well-controlled hypertension. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on this opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he now has a compensable rating for his right wrist strain. His other claims are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected asbestosis/emphysema resulted in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to resultant helplessness caused by mental and physical impairment, including inability to dress/undress himself, feed himself due to extreme weakness, and attend to the wants of nature.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a previous denial of service connection for hypertension and heart murmur. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which may have existed prior to his entry into active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and low back disorder are all related to his service in Korea. The PTSD is presumed based on combat exposure, while the hypertension is considered direct service connection due to its onset during service. The low back disorder does not have a clear link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension or duodenal ulcer that is etiologically related to his active military service, including as secondary to PTSD. As such, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

Service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of September 5, 2007.,A 10 percent disability rating for left acromioclavicular separation was assigned with an effective date of December 13, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal is for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the impact of these conditions on employment, is needed before deciding this claim.

The Board determined that there was no competent evidence linking the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and its associated conditions to his chemical exposure during service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to schedule a hearing before a Member of the Board at his local VA office.