Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and secondary service connection for end stage renal disease with hypertension, both of which are presumed to be due to the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and his tinnitus is not related to service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, plantar fasciitis, left ankle condition, left wrist condition, morphea scleroderma, sinus condition, and eye condition are denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and obesity are not service-connected, but may be secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's overactive bladder is service-connected, while his right knee strain does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,PTSD has been rated based on its current severity since September 4, 2001.

The Board has determined that service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is not warranted as his death was caused by fatal arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The medical opinions considered together have concluded that PTSD did not substantially or materially contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims of increased evaluations for myofascial pain of the right shoulder girdle muscles and hypertension with erectile dysfunction were denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen his service connection claim, and the VA examinations did not show an increase in severity since the last examination.

The Veteran died of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides during service. The Board grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, left leg and knee disorders. The evidence submitted was not considered new and material to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits determination, Army Reserve service treatment records, and a PTSD and hypertension examination.

The Veteran's valvular heart disease, diagnosed as rheumatic mitral valve stenosis with secondary tricuspid valve insufficiency and pulmonary hypertension, is found to have been demonstrated in service. The claim for PTSD is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by hypertension and dyslipidemia, which were incurred during his active service. As a result, the cause of death is now considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not service connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding whether the hypertension was caused or aggravated by the diabetes.

The Board has granted service connection for ingrown toenails and right eye headaches, but denied hypertension. The Veteran's ingrown toenails are presumed to have started during his military service, while his right eye headaches may also be related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD, traumatic arthritis of the right foot, and hypertension have been granted service connection. The PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since February 11, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety reaction is found to have caused or contributed substantially to his death from cardiovascular disease, which resulted in endocarditis and congestive heart failure. As a result, the claim for cause of death has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to evaluate his disabilities and determine if he qualifies for non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from February 16, 2009 to February 25, 2009 were granted payment as his condition stabilized on February 15, 2009 and a VA facility was not feasibly available for transfer.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 2007.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a left eye injury and hypertension were adjudicated. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for the left eye injury, but granted service connection for hypertension as it had its onset in service.