Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's current low back disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and his bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 10 percent. The Board found no basis to grant higher ratings for these conditions.

The VA determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease. The Veteran's current hypertension is not considered to be caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and assigned an initial non-compensable rating, but the Veteran's symptoms have remained constant throughout the course of the period on appeal. The current manifestations of hypertension require medication and are manifested by systolic blood pressure readings at or near 160.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus Type 2 with retinopathy, hypertension, or depression being incurred during service and denied the claims.

The Veteran's hypertension and kidney cysts were not shown in service or within one year after discharge. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to address the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, as well as its relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension, hepatitis B, and hiatal hernia with GERD are all rated based on their respective diagnostic codes. The rating for hepatitis C is changed to align with the correct diagnostic code.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a conclusion that the Veteran has a psychiatric disorder that is etiologically related to service or service-connected disability, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his psychiatric disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that further development is needed, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA outpatient treatment records. Additionally, a more comprehensive examination of the Veteran's right leg disability is required.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any of the claimed conditions resulted from VA care in September 2007, and thus denies all claims for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, skin cancer, residuals of a left arm injury, and hypertension. The decision found no credible evidence linking these conditions to service or any in-service events.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing hypertension was aggravated by his active duty service from March 2003 to March 2004, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension with renal involvement is currently rated at 30 percent, effective September 14, 2006. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher evaluation are not met.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD, but rather were more likely related to other factors. The bruxism/TMJ was determined to be secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's lung cancer and hypertension claims were denied as they are not service-connected. The compensable rating for his thoracotomy residuals was also denied.