Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's hypertension claim is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination. The issues of PTSD rating and service connection for lumbar fusion are also being remanded.

The evidence does not support service connection for hypertension, as it was not present during active duty or within one year of separation. The Veteran's hypertension is considered to be due to his unhealthy lifestyle and obesity rather than a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and material evidence was not provided to reopen any previously denied claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of credible evidence supporting herbicide exposure and insufficient evidence linking his conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the representative withdrew both issues prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, and renal disease.

The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any current eye disability, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appellant's representative requested this remand for the purpose of obtaining such an examination.

The Veteran's asthma, hypertension, and mitral valve regurgitation are found to be related to service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for hypertension with cardiomegaly from July 1, 2006, and in excess of 60 percent from March 26, 2012.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and DIC benefits, finding that COPD and hypertension were not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be related to service, while his hypertension claim was reopened based on new evidence. The other issues remained unresolved.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service onset or connection between the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and bilateral foot disorder with his service. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's heart disease, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee disability, and left hip disability are not service-connected as they were either not incurred or aggravated by service or due to a service-connected condition.

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

The Board has restored service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine and granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected disabilities, but severed service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine was improper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disease is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected coronary artery disease, and thus grants service connection for chronic kidney failure with hypertension.

The Veteran's right renal cell carcinoma is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hypertension, and thus granted secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, as a non-service connected disability causes his employment limitations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and bursitis of the right hip were not incurred or aggravated by his active service.