Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, pes planus, headaches, hypertension, and dermatitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss, as defined by VA standards. Therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for hypertension in writing, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and CAD due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's assertions regarding herbicide exposure have not been supported by relevant records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after addressing the pending increased ratings claims.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's increased rating claim for schizophrenia is also granted, with referral to the Director of Compensation & Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his hypertension developed in service or is related to diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine the impact of all service-connected disabilities on his employability, including education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's cause of death, septic shock due to intra-abdominal infection, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is etiologically related to his service, and hypertension with hypertensive renal insufficiency was incurred in active service. The claim for hypercholesterolemia is denied as it does not constitute a disease or disability for which VA benefits can be granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were granted, with a rating of 10 percent each. The claim for bronchial asthma was not addressed as it is separate from the other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and hemorrhoids, but did not assign a compensable rating for either condition.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical services at Northwest Texas Hospital were not reimbursable because a VA facility was feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused or contributed to by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking the fatal conditions to service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the addition of a secondary service connection claim for polyneuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling and no higher.,High cholesterol, a laboratory finding, cannot be service connected.

The Board has remanded the secondary service connection claim for hypertension due to a lack of clarity in the February 2012 VA examiner's opinion and the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the same examiner or another qualified VA clinician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions and the need for further medical opinions.