Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Board has granted the appellant's claims of service connection for hypertension and kidney failure, finding that these conditions began during the Veteran's period of active duty service.

The Veteran's hypertension, which was granted service connection for on July 4, 2007, has been rated at a 10 percent disability rating since that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to technical issues with a hearing transcript and requests for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for hypertension before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The appeal will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule him for appropriate VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected right shoulder disorder and hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to his active service. The Board also determined that it was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability, including type II diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim for service connection.,Since the date of his claim, the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity has been characterized by symptoms that are compatible with no more than mild, incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve and does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.,Since the date of his claim, the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity has been characterized by symptoms that are compatible with no more than mild, incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve and does not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.,Throughout the period on appeal, the Veteran's left knee disability has been manifest by arthritis with noncompensable limitation of extension and flexion with complaints of pain on use; no instability has been reported. The criteria for an increased rating greater than 10 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen claims for service connection for coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, right bundle branch block, hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and a psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, are denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether PTSD caused or aggravated cardiomyopathy and hypertension. The appeal is now pending again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension do not warrant an increased rating as they are currently evaluated at 0 percent (noncompensable).

The Board has granted service connection for right-sided testicular pain (claimed as epididymitis) and depressive disorder, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer. Service connection for hypertension was not established.

The case is being remanded due to incomplete VA medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection and new and material evidence will be reconsidered after the additional records are obtained.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss due to herbicide exposure, but new evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to such exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on multiple conditions, including lumbar sprain and migraine headaches, was denied. The Veteran's lumbar sprain is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain any outstanding treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, fibromyalgia (to include as secondary to PTSD), and arthritis have been denied. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD from May 3, 2007 through April 18, 2011 has been granted. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD since April 19, 2011 and to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) from November 19, 2007 through April 18, 2011 have been granted.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and consideration of the claim, including the submission of additional evidence by the Veteran.

The Board found that neither hypertension nor acute respiratory failure, which caused the Veteran's death, were service-connected or could have been service-connected.