Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the appeal is premature and remands for further action, including adjudication of the appellant's request to be substituted as the claimant.

The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus due to his exposure to Agent Orange. The case has been remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and heart conditions are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any presumptive exposure basis. The VA examiner found that PTSD did not cause or permanently worsen either condition.

The Veteran's myocardial infarction is not considered to be the result of VA care, and therefore, he does not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension due to an April 2013 VA examination that did not address his credible report of exposure to chemicals including liquid oxygen during military service, and whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's diabetes caused his hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not in need of aid and attendance or housebound due to her disabilities, thus denying the claim for increased rate of dependency and indemnity compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or on being housebound.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine strain and any medications prescribed for it.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a VA examination to address whether hypertension was aggravated by diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not present during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking it to his service-connected psychiatric disability or Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and Nicotine Dependence in November 2005. The Veteran's claim of service connection for Pulmonary Hypertension was granted on a secondary basis due to his pre-existing orthopedic conditions.,New evidence received since the last denial supports the grant of service connection for Pulmonary Hypertension, but does not support reopening claims for COPD and Nicotine Dependence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records from the December 2007 hospitalization and March 2011 pulmonary function testing. The TDIU claim must be deferred until further notice.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 26, 2004 for the assignment of a 80% disability rating for his service-connected IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) with hypertension and polyarthritis. The RO found that the May 26, 2004 VA treatment record constituted an informal claim for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to reopening a claim for service connection for hypertension and entitlement to increased disability ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as TDIU. The appellant's wishes regarding a hearing have not been confirmed.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated during active duty service from November 1990 to December 1991, and the Board finds that symptoms of hypertension were not chronic during this period. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to provide addendum opinions from the July 2013 VA examiners regarding hypertension and PTSD.

The Veteran's tinnitus was denied an increased rating on extraschedular basis, and his claim for TDIU was also denied as the combined disability rating did not meet the schedular requirements. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional development. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension remains pending.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to PTSD, which is considered a direct service-connected condition. The evidence shows that PTSD contributed substantially and materially to the fatal cardiopulmonary disease resulting in his death.