Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension and rheumatism claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a hearing issue, and the Veteran is entitled to a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for nephropathy with noncompensable hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining medical records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and a heart condition. The Veteran should be provided proper notice of how to establish a claim of entitlement to service connection as secondary to an already service connected disability, and any VA treatment records concerning these conditions since February 2007 should be sought.

The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than June 8, 2007 for the award of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability is not warranted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities; diabetes mellitus; hypertension; benign prostatic hypertrophy; and veneral disease claimed as syphilis.

The Board found that COPD, hypertension, and basal cell carcinoma were not shown in service or for many years after service.,Any current conditions are unrelated to service or to a disease or injury of service origin, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and cardiovascular disorders were not related to his military service, including active duty and reserve service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to specifically include PTSD, was denied as the evidence of record fails to corroborate her reported stressor.,Service connection is also denied for hypertension, stroke residuals, hysterectomy residuals, and diabetes mellitus as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, CVA, and basal cell carcinoma of the right upper eyelid. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of a 80 percent disability rating for his service-connected IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease), with hypertension and polyarthritis. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran is found to be precluded from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which have rendered him unable to work.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, circulatory disorder, and hypertension. However, these claims are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for asthma has been reopened and granted. Service connection for hypertension was not established, but the Veteran is currently receiving a separate rating for tinnitus (10%) in conjunction with his M�niére's disease (30% for vertigo).

The Veteran's hypertension and right knee disorder were granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his left knee, ankle, and foot disorders. The decision is mixed as it includes both granted and denied issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, right shoulder, and hypertension disabilities were denied. The VA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to August 2006 and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for PTSD will also be expanded to include other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorder and depressive disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability did not have onset during active service or within one year of separation for active service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a heart disability was denied.