Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his other service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not first manifested in service or for more than three decades after his separation from service. There is no medical evidence linking hypertension directly to any aspect of the Veteran's period of service, and the preponderance of the medical evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death was not related to his active duty service and is therefore not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and hypertension are being reviewed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, residuals of a left hand and left little finger injury, and a respiratory disorder manifested by shortness of breath and chest pain.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for dyslipidemia, as it is a laboratory finding and not a disability under VA law. The Veteran's claims of increased PTSD rating, diabetes mellitus type II, and heart disability to include hypertension are being remanded for further development.

The Board found that the claimant's hypertension, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, brain damage, stomach ache, and malaria are not related to his service. The claim was denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a vision disorder and hypertension, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, but his hearing loss disability and hypertension claims remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his claim was denied on both schedular and extraschedular grounds.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have CAD caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The claim for hypertension is REMANDED to allow for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher level of special monthly compensation (SMC) has been denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC at the 'o' level due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient consideration of lay statements and duty to assist.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.,The Board also denied service connection for skin cancer (including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma), finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is caused by her service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants secondary service connection for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been granted, and an effective date of March 10, 2005 is established. The Veteran is now rated at 100% for depression from October 4, 2006, with SMC at the housebound rate effective October 4, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor for PTSD, and the current psychiatric disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition.,There is currently no diagnosis of hypertension due to service or a service-connected condition.