Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Board found that there is no current disability of a bilateral knee disorder or hypertension, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's combined disability rating for his service-connected conditions is currently at 40 percent, effective January 1, 2005. The Board finds no error in the calculation and denies the claim for a higher combined rating.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension on both a direct and presumptive basis, finding no evidence of hypertension during or within one year after service. The Veteran's claim was not supported by competent medical evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board is dismissing these matters.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were incurred during his military service. The other issues related to esophageal ulcer, duodenal condition, hypertension, dermatitis, bilateral hearing loss, and fatigue have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of low back disability and granted it. The claims for myopia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the reduction in evaluation from 10% to 0% for hypertension effective April 1, 2004 was proper due to actual improvement and maintained control of blood pressure through diet. The Veteran's current evaluation of 10% is upheld as her systolic pressures have not reached 200 since November 3, 2006.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected disabilities due to the passage of time and changes in symptoms since his last examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his hypertension.

The Board found that clear and unmistakable evidence showed the Veteran's hypertension preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected diabetes, either by way of causation or aggravation. Therefore, service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has ordered additional development and remanded the case for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hypertension and is granting it.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development of his claims, including VA examinations and the provision of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension was not present in service and is not etiologically related to his service or his service connected PTSD. The claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran does not have chronic residuals of a syphilis infection related to his active duty service, and the current conditions are not found to be directly related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding no evidence of these conditions during or within the presumptive period following service. New evidence received since 2005 did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of hypertension, and the Board has dismissed this claim.