Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's death was due to alcoholic cirrhosis and alcohol abuse, which is not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, arthritis of the left upper extremity, and arthritis of the left lower extremity. The conditions were not shown to be related to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Board hearing. Service connection claims are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues on appeal include an initial evaluation for anxiety disorder, service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, headaches, and gout.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus and/or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are also referred for adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred from February 7-12, 2008 at the Palms of Pasadena Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida is denied because he does not have any adjudicated service-connected disabilities and therefore cannot qualify under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and service connection for hypertension, stating he is satisfied with the December 2010 rating decision increase of the PTSD rating to 50 percent. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters as they are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no positive association between exposure to herbicides and hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is not presumed due to Agent Orange exposure.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer of the back, as there was no evidence linking it to his military service or any form of exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and left shoulder dislocation are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, consideration of new evidence, and compliance with procedural requirements.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have an onset in service and is not otherwise causally or etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's PTSD was also denied as there was no showing of aggravation by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it was not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating than 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence showing it was incurred in service. The claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The decision is based on the existing evidence and applicable rating criteria.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current back, pericarditis, hypertension, or psychiatric disability to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction (secondary to diabetes mellitus), and tinnitus. The evidence submitted since the previous denials was not new and material.

The Board has awarded service connection for tinnitus, which represents a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are also granted as direct service connection is established.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and left hip arthritis, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.