Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a chest injury and hyperlipidemia prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims for hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and spine injury residuals. The claims were denied as they remained based on service connection criteria.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding service connection for cause of the Veteran's death. The appeal will be remanded to the RO/AMC for additional actions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and residuals of cold injury to the upper and lower extremities due to incomplete or inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions are not shown to be related to active service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA medical records and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board finds that the Veteran had in-service herbicide exposure, presumptively associated with type II diabetes mellitus. However, further medical examination is needed to determine if these conditions are linked to the claimed disabilities.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining service personnel records and Social Security Administration records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current glaucoma is not related to his period of active military service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disability on either a causation or aggravation basis, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's chronic renal insufficiency and hypertension have been rated at 60 percent since June 28, 2010. The evidence shows a definite decrease in kidney function prior to this date.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation and was not related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling under the rating criteria for hypertensive vascular disease. The evidence does not show diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more at any point during the appeal period, thus preventing a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for depression, bilateral knee disorder, and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability. The claims for a bilateral knee disorder and hypertension are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected coronary artery disease and hypertension have been denied as the evidence does not show that he meets the criteria for a higher evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's IBS is secondary to her service-connected PTSD. The Board finds the opinion of Dr. M.W.C., who has treated the Veteran for several years, more probative than the VA examiners' opinions that it is not related to her PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination reports and outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension and multiple malignant melanoma, but the evidence does not support a direct relationship with military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left leg disability, and right leg disability are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension, residuals of frostbite of the feet, and residuals of frostbite of the face. The Veteran's current diagnoses of left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are in equipoise with the opinion that these conditions were not incurred during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of his military service periods and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension has required medication for control during the course of the claim, and he is currently in receipt of a 10 percent disability rating.