Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his PTSD and determine whether hypertension is secondary to or directly related to his service-connected PTSD.

The appellant seeks special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance or due to housebound status. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining medical records from private facilities where she received treatment.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypertension is etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not increase in severity during his second period of active military service, and thus denied service connection.

The Veteran's claimed chest pain and hypertension were not shown to be related to his service or any period of active duty. The Board found no evidence linking the conditions to service, including a lack of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, low back disability, hernia, and deafness. The claims were also reopened based on new evidence but the service connection was not granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate opinions in the October 2010 VA examination report regarding the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for laryngospasm, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypertension as secondary to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's conditions are not considered service connected.

The Board has granted service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that they are causally related to events during active service.

The Veteran's brain tumor, hypertension, and mini-strokes were not found to be related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's morbid obesity is caused or aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran seeks an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension, which was granted on the basis of aggravation caused by his service-connected PTSD. The RO assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation due to baseline manifestations being 10 percent. Additional development is required to obtain private medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension has not manifested in diastolic pressure of predominantly 100 or more, or systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his National Guard service treatment records. Service connection will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for tinnitus, left ear because it has been rendered moot on appeal due to a December 2010 rating decision granting this claim.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's blood pressure readings did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, depressive disorder, and transient ischemic attacks as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches. The Veteran was also denied an increased rating for his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for the regular aid and attendance of another person.