Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's testimony at his August 2011 hearing, along with other newly submitted evidence, raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The effective date for the grant of service connection for CAD remains April 16, 2001. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial schedular rating for CAD prior to November 9, 2001 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension related to his military service or caused by any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent, effective March 11, 2011. The claims for hypertension and anxiety/depressive disorder were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen these claims. Service connection for bilateral knee disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hip disorder, ankle disorders, and lumbar spine disorder are all denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim for service connection for sleep apnea can be decided. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for a more thorough examination and opinion regarding her sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and determine if his hypertension is related to service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and right knee condition have all been denied. The Board finds no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's disability ratings for diabetes mellitus and hypertension were reduced, with the reduction in the rating for diabetes mellitus being proper due to improvement in his condition. The Veteran was not entitled to a higher rating as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for herpes, optic nerve damage, hepatitis A, B, C, gallstones, bronchitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, HIV/AIDS, peripheral neuropathy and hypertension have not been met. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not presumed to have been so incurred. The examiner concluded that the condition did not pre-exist his period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and did not worsen during this time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD disability, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no competent, credible evidence linking any of the claimed disorders to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to or hastened his death. The appellant claims that her husband was exposed to herbicides during service, had complications from his service-connected conditions, and did not have active cancers prior to his death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for eczema and hemorrhoids, as well as his service connection claims for muscle aches, fatigue, allergies, wheezing, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and tingling and numbness of the skin. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to consider extraschedular considerations for the Veteran's eczema and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his PTSD. The claim for hypertension remains pending but not decided in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records and afford him new examinations. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, malaria, gout, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and ischemic heart disease (claimed as cardiovascular and cerebral vascular accident), finding no competent evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease are presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides during service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The claim will be returned to the Board after the hearing is held.