Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is not incurred in line of duty due to his own willful misconduct, and thus service connection for PTSD cannot be granted. The claims for back disorder, headaches, hearing loss, high blood pressure, and nasal disorder are also denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional information and medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether it was due to radiation exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU prior to January 1, 2002. From January 1, 2002, he meets the schedular criteria but they do not render him unemployable.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was related to his service-connected hypertension, which contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since September 2005, and the Board is granting a higher rating of 70 percent effective June 15, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing opinions regarding the nature of her GERD, hypertension, and right fifth finger injury.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by service, including his conceded in-service exposure to herbicides. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and his hypertension.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 10 percent evaluation for service-connected hypertension, finding clear and unmistakable error in the reduction to noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and his hypertension is presumed to have been incurred in service. The benefit of doubt has been resolved in favor of the Veteran for hypertension.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and private treatment records. The service connection secondary to rheumatic heart disease with aortic stenosis and cardiac murmur issue is also inextricably intertwined and will be addressed as part of the TDIU review.

The Veteran's seven service connected disabilities meet the schedular requirements for consideration of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a), and his combined rating is currently at 80 percent, effective from September 2011.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for hypertension, as it was not incurred or aggravated by active military service and is not related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss with a noncompensable rating, effective July 14, 2008. The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding hypertension and anxiety disorder prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records, provide a VA examination for all claimed conditions, and determine the nature and etiology of each condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his hypertension is currently rated at 20 percent. The current ratings are appropriate based on the clinical evidence showing no need for insulin or regulation of activities due to diabetes, and no specific restrictions related to hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities qualify him for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension/hypertensive heart disease/hypertensive renal disease and erectile dysfunction, finding that these conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service or a service-connected disability (diabetes).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertensive cardiovascular disease, to include hypertension, is related to his active military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a comprehensive examination to consider all of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their combined effect on his employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran currently has such a condition.,Ischemic heart disease is presumed to have been incurred as a result of exposure to herbicides during military service.