Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Board finds that the Veteran's current conditions, including hypertension and heart abnormalities, are not related to his in-service treatment for heat stroke. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension. The underlying issue of whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to active duty service will be addressed on remand.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current heart conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as there is no evidence of diastolic pressure of predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure of predominantly 200 or more.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a cervical spine disability, spontaneous pneumothorax, chest pain, blood vessel damage of the head, mini-strokes or transient ischemic attacks, skin disorder, or hypertension due to service. The claims are denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claim.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus type 2 is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty, and thus is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents. As a result, he meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids have been rated at 20% since March 5, 2008 due to the presence of an anal fissure. His hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred in service and is therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus contributed substantially or materially to his death from arteriosclerotic heart disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The appeal is being remanded due to the timeliness of the Veteran's substantive appeal and a need to reconsider whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for service connection for low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. The initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are under review.

The Board has granted service connection for mitral valve regurgitation, but the status of service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder is unknown.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability and an increased rating for hypertension. The Veteran's current ratings are 10% for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of exposure to ionizing radiation was denied as there is no evidence that he was exposed to ionizing radiation during his active duty. The Board found that infertility, which the Veteran claimed was due to his alleged radiation exposure, is not a radiogenic disease and therefore not service connected.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that new and material evidence was received since the June 1999 RO decision. The Board also found that the Veteran's current hypertension had its onset in or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, including hypertension and for costochondritis. The effective date of service connection was not granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma and cataracts, high cholesterol, and hypertension. The remaining issues of service connection for asbestosis, COPD, spurring of cervical and lumbar spine (back disorder), sleep apnea, tonsil disorder, bilateral knee arthritis with total knee replacement, right foot Achilles tendon (right foot disorder), and left foot disorder are addressed below.