Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension was withdrawn. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left knee disorder is denied as there is no evidence of an additional disability caused by participation in the VA compensated work therapy program. Service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran did not sustain vascular injury or disease related to hypertension during active service and that symptoms of hypertension were not continuous since service separation. The current disability was first objectively manifested 13 years after service, and there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of type II diabetes and whether hypertension and cataracts are caused by or aggravated by type II diabetes. The issues on appeal will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, degenerative arthritis in both knees, traumatic arthritis in the elbow, pes planus, chronic low back strain, and chronic sinusitis, contributed to his death from an overdose of propoxyphene. The Board finds that these conditions were directly related to the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the two conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of his discharge from service. The claim for secondary service connection based on PTSD was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes and coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for secondary service connection based on diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease was denied as well.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for hearing loss and found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying a TDIU.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, a disability manifested by dehydration had its onset during military service. The Board also found that kidney stones were incurred in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not otherwise attributable to service. The claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at a 10 percent rating, but no more. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was denied. Service connection for the claimed back disability and right ankle disability were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including addressing secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 1, 2009 for payment of additional compensation for his current spouse. The decision was based on the fact that notice of his marriage to his current spouse was not received at the RO within one year of their marriage or prior to February 10, 2009.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not require regular aid and attendance prior to June 12, 2009, as evidenced by her ability to care for herself based on VA examinations conducted in April 2004 and June 2009. The effective date of the award is therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of whether he should receive a separate rating for his hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected renal insufficiency associated with hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any point during the appeal period.