Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected CAD and hypertension do not warrant an extraschedular rating as their symptoms are reasonably encompassed by the assigned schedular ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion. The issue is whether diabetes mellitus causes or aggravates essential hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding no evidence of in-service treatment or continuity of symptoms since service that would support a grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, residuals of left knee injury, and GERD are all service-connected as they were first manifested during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to depression.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's heart disorder and hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in severe symptoms, including hypervigilance and nightmares, but without gross impairment in thought process or communication. The Board found that a disability rating of 70 percent was warranted since July 1, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, chronic bronchitis, asthma, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, edema of the lower extremities, and other acquired psychiatric disabilities have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any service connection related to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, which the Board found to be appropriate given his symptoms. The claim for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension was also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal and assigned an effective date of August 22, 1992 for service connection for hypertension. The case is being remanded to determine if the STRs obtained after June 1994 can serve as a basis for granting service connection for cardiomyopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension are not service-connected, as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in service. The skin condition claim is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle strains are not shown to warrant a compensable rating due to the lack of evidence of moderate or marked limitation of motion.,The Veteran's status post left ring finger fracture with residuals is not shown to interfere with his daily activities, as he reports no adverse impact on his ability to perform normal activities.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including anxiety and depression, hearing loss, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy. The RO is instructed to obtain SSA records and readjudicate the increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and employment history information. The Veteran's PTSD and TDIU claims are also being reviewed, as well as his claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board due to the Veteran's request.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred during his active military service, granting him entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's upper extremity and hypertension disabilities are not secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the hypertension is permanently aggravated by his service-connected conditions and if it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for chronic obstructive disease, hypertension, and neurological disorders of the upper and lower extremities have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD was reopened, but the claim remains denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his PTSD rating is also denied.