Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder and anxiety, is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current hypertension is related to service, including the elevated blood pressure readings in service. The issue of service connection for hypertension will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA hypertension examiner regarding whether vascular hypertension is caused or aggravated by service-connected major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence.

The Veteran's hypertension claim was reopened, but the claim for service connection remains denied.,Right hip disability and right eye disability claims were both denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent for locking, pain and effusion into the joint. Beginning July 17, 2012, he has a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee joint.,For his left knee disability, the Veteran receives a 20 percent rating for locking, pain and effusion into the joint. He does not have any limitation of motion warranting an additional rating.

The Veteran's timely Substantive Appeal allowed for the reopening of his claims and granted him increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain, effective from October 6, 2009.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension, which is currently secondary to diabetes.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic, identifiable sleep disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder (claimed as Sleep Apnea).,Hypertension was first noted after service and not related to service. The Board also denied service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and updated VA treatment records. A medical opinion will be obtained regarding the relationship between hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type 2, as well as an evaluation of his employability.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his hypertension developed in service or is related to his service-connected craniotomy or mood disorder, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service or any service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to clarify the opinion regarding whether hypertension was aggravated by coronary artery disease and/or diabetes mellitus, including considering the role of the pacemaker.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee and low back disabilities were previously denied in February 2003. New evidence submitted since then is not considered material as it does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's suicide was not caused by a service-connected psychiatric disorder, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in active military service. The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, erectile dysfunction, and polycythemia vera as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a transcript of his April 2009 hearing and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of his bladder cancer and hypertension. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the effective date for service connection for PTSD with depression will also be addressed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for hypertension, proteinuria with decrease in renal function, and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Board found that bowel and bladder dysfunction, hypertension, right shoulder disorder, and neck disorder are not related to service or a service-connected disability.