Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the pension and TDIU claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is not considered in determining his eligibility for pension benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that he did not submit new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hypertension, chronic headaches, right ring finger injury, and bilateral foot disorder were incurred during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete explanations in prior opinions and to address secondary aggravation of hypertension by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is more likely than not caused by the Veteran's presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before adjudication of the claim for service connection for hypertension, including obtaining verification of active duty periods and scheduling a VA examination.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination for PTSD and hypertension, as well as an opportunity for the Veteran to submit an informal brief regarding benign prostatic hypertrophy.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals on several issues due to his withdrawal of those claims. The remaining issues are related to service connection for hypertension, a psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any respiratory disability from which the Veteran may suffer, as well as whether hypertension began during or is causally related to service. The Veteran's notice of disagreement also included a request for a DRO hearing, but he withdrew that request.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral cataracts have been rated based on their current manifestations. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis and treatment of hypertension occurred shortly after discharge from active service. Service connection was denied for sleep apnea due to lack of radiation exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an examination and adjudicating new issues such as service connection for ischemic heart disease and whether new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for hypertension. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a VA examination to assess the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various gastrointestinal and cardiovascular conditions, as well as a positional tremor. The issues were remanded by the Board in October 2009 to obtain VA examinations related to these claims. However, the Veteran failed to report for scheduled examinations multiple times, leading to their cancellation.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and low back disability existed prior to his entry into active service, and thus did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection. The Veteran's conditions were also not aggravated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a pre-existing condition in either case.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of all claims on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, hypertension (claimed as ischemic heart disease), and diabetes type II. The decision found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure, and new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of diabetes type II.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted without a waiver of initial RO consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.