Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression secondary to diabetes, CAD, valvular heart disease, acid reflux or GERD, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, intermittent claudication, diabetic retinopathy, left foot and toe disability, psoriasis, and hypertension. The reasons for these denials are provided in the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated during active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The veteran's post-operative residuals of a torn meniscus of the left knee and bilateral hearing loss are currently evaluated at 10 percent each.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected essential hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for hypertension is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a hearing if requested.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II and denied service connection for colon cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran's hypertension was found to be proximately due to his service-connected diabetes, while the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for colon cancer on any basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension in August 1994, which was affirmed by the Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims. The RO again denied the claim in June 1999 on the basis that the information provided had already been considered. The evidence submitted since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The case is being remanded due to the need to obtain records from Social Security Administration (SSA) and for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and service connection for respiratory disorders, vision loss, and hypertension. The decision also noted that a claim of service connection for PTSD was referred to the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus denied his claim for TDIU.

The veteran is seeking an effective date prior to June 12, 2001 for a 40 percent evaluation for his service-connected herniated disc L4-L5 with S1 irritation. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable prior to this date that the criteria for a 40 percent rating were met.,The veteran is also seeking an effective date prior to June 14, 2004 for a 60 percent evaluation for his service-connected herniated disc L4-L5 with S1 irritation. The Board found that it was factually ascertainable as of September 23, 2002, that the criteria for a 60 percent rating were met under new regulations.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial or staged rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the former or current rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO in Houston, Texas. The veteran and his representative will be notified of the date and time of the hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied. However, service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD as a result of his service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for verification of the veteran's dates of active duty for training and further medical examination.

The Board has found no evidence linking the veteran's current back disorder, right knee disorder, or hypertension to his period of service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hypertension is not related to his time in service and therefore, he cannot establish direct service connection for a heart condition.

The Board has determined that a VA medical examination is needed to address whether the veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and to determine if there are any outstanding treatment records. The veteran must be notified of these findings and provided with an opportunity to respond.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and is not related to his service-connected residuals of collapsed right lung. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.