Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current hypertension disability had its onset in service or is otherwise related to any incident of service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder sprain (bursitis), venereal warts, recurrent lumbosacral strain, scratched eyeballs, swollen, dry, itchy throat, and hypertension with history of abnormal ECG/EKG and other claimed heart pathology.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is granted, and his hypertension is assigned a noncompensable evaluation prior to January 11, 2010. The Board finds that the evidence supports a 10 percent rating for hypertension under Diagnostic Code 7101.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not shown in service or within the first post-service year, and have not been linked to a disease or injury of service origin. Service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including adjudicating claims of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in previous rating decisions and clarifying representation status.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service or may be presumed to be so, and therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for colorectal cancer, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary hypertension are being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to combustible gasses in Korea.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension and granted it, finding that while not shown during active duty, it is related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for traumatic cataract, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and a tumor in the stomach region. The denial is based on the finality of previous decisions denying these claims.

The Board found no credible evidence of a left leg fracture during service and denied the Veteran's claims for both left leg fracture and hypertension secondary to right wrist disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records, Social Security Administration records, and post-May 2010 VA treatment records. The hearing request remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and refractive error are not service-connected as they did not have their onset in service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence showing a direct connection to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine whether hypertension is proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II, and if not, whether it was aggravated by diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 40%, which does not meet the minimum percentage requirement for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension had its onset during active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and renal insufficiency were not related to his active duty service or secondary to his diabetes mellitus, type II. The VA examinations did not confirm the presence of chronic renal insufficiency.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. However, the initial ratings requested (higher than 10 percent for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss) are denied as they do not meet the criteria under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and hypertension, which represents a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and renal disability claims are remanded to obtain additional medical evidence.