Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain relevant records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for further development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic myofascitis, cognitive disorder due to closed head injury, and radiculopathy secondary to lumbar spine pathology have been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative joint disease of the knees, hypertension, fibromyalgia and/or chronic pain syndrome, hepatitis C, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. However, the Board denied service connection for psoriatic arthritis.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claims for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, renal disease, and eye disorder.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for hypertension, heart murmur, and blackouts due to incomplete service medical records and need for additional VA examinations and etiology opinions.

The Board found no current residuals of a right hand and thumb injury, thus denying service connection for this condition. Service connection was also denied for depression due to lack of competent evidence showing its onset during service or being related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension did not develop during service or within one year of discharge, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for laxity, lateral ligaments of the right ankle was denied. The effective date for his service connection for migraine headaches is March 6, 2000.

The veteran's PTSD was granted an increased rating to 50 percent, effective from June 1999. The issue of reopening his hypertension claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed impaired vision and hypertension are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within one year of separation.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hemorrhoids, as well as the reopening of his hepatitis claim, were denied. His PTSD and shoulder disabilities received increased ratings.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 14, 2004 were not for an emergent condition where delay would have been hazardous to his life or health. A VA medical facility was feasibly available at the time of treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic anemia, hypertension, and osteoarthritis are not related to his service-connected infectious hepatitis. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected mood disorder and/or ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's hypertension with arteriosclerotic heart disease was not properly reduced from 30 percent to 20 percent from July 1, 2003, to January 19, 2005. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension does not warrant a disability rating in excess of 10 percent, and his coronary artery disease is currently rated at 30 percent. The veteran's claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension is related to active service, including exposure to Agent Orange. As a result, service connection for hypertension is granted.

The veteran's conditions do not render him permanently bedridden or in need of regular aid and attendance, as he can walk unaided with the help of a cane. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the award of special monthly pension based upon the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Board has remanded the case due to several issues, including obtaining legible copies of medical records from Dr. E. M., providing a more thorough explanation for the denial of higher ratings, and sending VCAA notice.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities alone.