Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for systolic hypertension and diabetic retinopathy with cataracts, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 70% and his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension is well controlled with medication and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the appellant's testimony regarding the severity of his service-connected cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as a claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and provide a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected hypertension was either the principal or contributory cause.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, arthritis, cataracts, and gout. The appeal for nonservice-connected pension benefits is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's heart disease is related to his military service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the examiner who conducted the June 2004 VA heart examination regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current essential hypertension was not related to military service due to a lack of evidence of diagnosis during service and contradictory statements regarding its onset.,Service connection for a right knee disorder, claimed as secondary to a left knee disability, was also denied. The VA examiner concluded that the right knee disorder is more likely related to natural aging rather than any in-service injury or condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and hypertension are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected PTSD, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout and hypertension. The decision regarding residuals of a fracture to the right fifth metacarpal is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and reopened the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his in-service complaints, while the evidence submitted since the August 1995 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA hospital on February 23, 2007 is granted due to the presence of an emergency condition and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service records and attempting to obtain records from specific hospitals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease and hypertension are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of their onset during active duty or due to a service-connected condition. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, psychiatric disorder, and heart disease were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis, hypertension, and chronic renal failure. The Veteran was not shown to have a current sarcoidosis disability, and his statements about the onset of hypertension were found to be inconsistent with medical evidence. Chronic renal failure was determined to be caused by uncontrolled hypertension or hypertensive nephrosclerosis, which is not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a heart disability and hypertension (claimed as due to exposure to herbicides), and a right finger disability. The decision found that there was no evidence of chronic hearing loss or any other condition related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural issues, including the failure to schedule a hearing. The claims for PTSD, herniated disc of the lumbar spine, and hypertension are still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and coronary artery disease, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.