Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for asthma, chronic renal failure, and hypertension due to a lack of evidence showing a causal link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have left shoulder, right shoulder, or left leg/hip disabilities. The headaches and hypertension are also not service-connected as they did not start during active duty or within one year of separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information provided by VA in its request for verification of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service records and a search with JSRRC are required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD or chloracne.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including as due to undiagnosed illness, were denied by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology. The diagnoses were not established during active duty.

The Veteran's skin disease, including psoriasis and a benign tumor or tumors, was not found to be related to service-connected right below-the-knee amputation. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, vascular disease (exclusive of peripheral vascular disease of the right lower extremity), arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, and kidney failure were all determined to be unrelated to military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board granted a separate 30 percent evaluation for hypertensive heart disease with minimal left ventricular enlargement, effective from December 16, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations and VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability determination records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if his low back disorder is related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, anxiety disorder, depression, a heart condition, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain alone does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to conflicting medical opinions and an incomplete review of the claims file.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension are granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that no disability incurred in or aggravated by service caused or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for lymphogranuloma venereum, service connection for hypertension, and service connection for bilateral knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records, personnel records, and examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes was granted service connection effective October 20, 2006, with a rating of 40 percent.,Coronary artery disease was granted service connection effective May 10, 2006, with a rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to assess the severity of his hypertension and determine if diabetes is related to service or his heart disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's VA treatment records and private practitioner records, as well as a VA examination for tinnitus. The case will be remanded for these actions.