Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional information from his former employer regarding disability retirement and other service-connected disabilities. The issues of bilateral knee, kidney, and eye disabilities are also inextricably intertwined with the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claim for an initial compensable rating for post fungal infection of the feet and hands is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, finding that his diabetes mellitus did not require regulation of activities.

The Veteran's heart disorder, left elbow disorder, left foot/ankle disability, and hypertension have been granted service connection. The rating for the cervical spine disability has also been increased to 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development to determine if the appellant's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to October 31, 2007.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear for a requested personal hearing. The issues of service connection are pending.

The Veteran's trench foot and psychiatric disability are granted service connection. The claim for Grave's Disease is also granted, with the presumption of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that service connection for hypertension is warranted, and the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and ear disorder (claimed as hearing loss) due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's period of active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and bronchitis are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including stroke, migraine headaches, PTSD, hypertension, onychomycosis, hepatitis C, and joint pains. The decision is based on a finding that there was no evidence of in-service onset or association with these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted, with the left knee disability receiving a 30% rating effective January 7, 2010. The hypertension and aortic stenosis disabilities received their respective initial ratings.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is otherwise unrelated to an injury, disease, or event in service, including exposure to Agent Orange. Hypertension is also not caused by or made worse by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is presumed to have been incurred in service, as it manifested within one year of his separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for additional development and consideration of all potential theories of entitlement, including aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, reopening of service connection for hypertension and PTSD are REMANDED due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility were initially granted effective June 5, 2007. The RO later changed the effective date to May 29, 2007 due to a claim for TDIU being submitted in a May 29, 2007 statement from his attorney. However, there was also CUE in the April 30, 2007 rating decision regarding hypertension and nephrotic syndrome.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.