Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability.,For the period of the appeal, the Veteran's hypertension has not been shown to have predominantly manifested by diastolic pressure at 100 or more, or systolic pressure of 160 or more. Therefore, an initial compensable rating is denied.,The service-connected right ankle strain does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent as there is no evidence of marked limitation of motion or functional loss due to pain.

The Veteran's death was caused by myocardial infarction due to hypertensive heart disease and hypertension. The Board finds that the service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to cause the Veteran's death, as evidenced by the treatise evidence and VA medical opinion.

The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for hypertension, as it was neither shown to have had its onset in service nor to be related to posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death, and there was no evidence of full-body exposure to mustard gas during service. The claim for service connection for the cause of death was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if any current respiratory disability is related to the Veteran's inservice pneumonia. The claim for service connection for hypertension remains pending as it was previously denied but not appealed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, status post pacemaker implantation is dismissed as he has withdrawn the appeal.,Service connection granted for migraine headaches, found to be proximately due to or the result of service-connected disability (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and hypertension).

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of the RO to issue a Statement of the Case on the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2. The remaining claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, effective May 25, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his blood pressure readings were consistently below the threshold required for a 20% rating.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Both of the Veteran's scars are currently rated as non-compensable. The appendectomy scar does not meet any specific criteria for a compensable rating, and the right thigh scar also does not qualify under the current criteria.,The Veteran's insomnia claim is denied because no sleep disability has been diagnosed. His chronic fatigue syndrome claim is denied due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection based on his deployment in Afghanistan.,There are no specific findings regarding service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing at the RO and to address the issues of service connection, increased rating, and total disability based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's hypertension was found to have been incurred during service, and he is now granted service connection for this condition. The initial increased ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension, as well as incomplete VCAA notice.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no credible or competent evidence of any in-service events, injuries, or diseases that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The PTSD is linked to in-service stressors involving fear of hostile military activity, while the hypertension is found to be at least as likely as not due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability, including PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, residuals of a back injury, right knee condition, left knee condition, right hip traumatic arthritis, left hip traumatic arthritis, right leg nerve damage, left leg nerve damage, right hallux malleus (hammertoes), and left hallux malleus. However, the claims are denied as service connection is not established for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension and determined that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The issue of whether diabetes mellitus is secondary to chronic pancreatitis was also addressed, but no decision was made as it fell outside the scope of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records from the Elgin, Illinois VA outpatient clinic. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is a result of his service-connected PTSD, and the Board grants this claim.