Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and CAD are not associated with his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure. The veteran did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam or its demilitarized zone (DMZ) during his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, including secondary to medications taken for service-connected disabilities. This includes obtaining VA medical records from Grand Rapids, Michigan, reviewing a VA urologist's opinion on the etiology of the veteran's erectile dysfunction, and ensuring all legal requirements are met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and Type II diabetes mellitus, as well as his service connection claims for Ménire's disease, hypertension, cardiovascular-renal disease, kidney stones, thyroid tumor, arthritis, ulcer (gastric-peptic), and hepatitis C. The Board found that the veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a scar of the right thigh.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension and heart condition were not incurred in service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disorder as secondary to hypertension, finding that his hypertension existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during service. The heart disorder was also found not related to active service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to use assistive devices.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to untimely Substantive Appeals.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a new VCAA notice is required, and the case must be remanded for further development including medical opinions on whether service-connected conditions contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, heart disease, PTSD, residuals of a scar above the left eye, and bilateral hearing loss are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for establishing service connection.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to lack of a pending claim at the time of the veteran's death. The appellant's arguments regarding the role of her husband's service-connected disabilities in his death were not sufficient to establish service connection as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his death.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining employment history and Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence of its onset in service or within one year post-service and thus denying direct service connection. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a presumptive basis for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and its secondary effects, as there was no credible evidence to support the occurrence of the alleged personal assaults during service.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions did not have onset during service and are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's physical incapacity requires regular aid and attendance of another person to protect him from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment, warranting special monthly pension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and heart disease secondary to his service-connected solitary pelvic kidney, as well as a claim for an increased evaluation. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's VA Form 9, received in January 2004 is not a timely filed substantive appeal as to the issue of service connection for PTSD. As such, this issue is dismissed.