Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to his military service, including by way of a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of retinopathy or cataracts, and thus denied service connection for these conditions. Service connection was also denied for hypertension.

The Veteran's gout in the feet was first manifested during active duty service and is presumed to have been incurred therein. Service connection for hypertension, GERD, a disability of the upper bilateral extremities, and sleep apnea are all granted.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with early nephropathy and hypertension was denied. The reduction from 100 percent to 20 percent for residuals of prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy, was upheld.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board granted service connection for arthritis of multiple joints and rhinitis, assigned initial noncompensable disability ratings to the Veteran's migraine headaches, lumbar strain, bilateral knee strains, bilateral ankle strains, hypertension, and anxiety disorder (NOS), and increased the rating for migraine headaches since May 14, 2013.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection. The right knee disability and instability were denied increased ratings, while the left knee disability and instability received a 30% rating.,The Veteran's hemorrhoids did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension due to potential service exposure, but did not specify a rating or effective date.

The Veteran's current hypertension disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, headaches, right ear hearing loss, hypertension, and cervical spine joint and disc disease due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or the Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's claims were not reopened as new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, as it manifested within one year of separation and was diagnosed during or shortly after service. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's unauthorized private medical expenses incurred from February 22, 2013 through February 26, 2013 were denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension and right thalamic intracerebral hemorrhage (stroke), claimed as secondary to hypertension, were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for PTSD effective from the date of claim, and also granted TDIU.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type 2 needs further development and a supplemental opinion is required.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional development. You will be provided with a supplemental statement of the case if any benefit is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical and development of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and for a VA examination. The claims of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, hepatitis C, and psychiatric disorder are all pending.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.