Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for vision disability and hypertension, as well as his claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease. This includes obtaining VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions and assessing their relationship to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes, nephropathy with voiding dysfunction, neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and coronary artery disease are all denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other service connection criteria met.

The Veteran's hypertension and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction have been evaluated at a 10% rating since the initial grant of service connection in September 1997. The current appeal seeks an increased rating, but the evidence does not support such a finding.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, arranging for a pathologist's review of the Veteran's death, and providing an opinion on the causes of his death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and granted it. The Veteran is also granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for his sensorimotor radiculopathy, right arm.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on May 11, 2010 were reimbursed as the emergency treatment was necessary due to a serious threat to his health and delay in seeking immediate care would have been hazardous.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome and hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not sustain a disease or injury related to these conditions in service. The Board also found that hypertension was not proximately caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA examination opinions. The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart disorder are still pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and as such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected disability pension benefits was granted effective June 15, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date due to his employment status and medical conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and hypertension have been rated at the maximum schedular ratings available. The Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition during any portion of the claims period.

The Board has ordered additional development due to unclear service dates and the need for clarification regarding the appellant's duty status during her service with the Army National Guard of Georgia. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of hypertension, renal dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss disability, sleep apnea, hypoxia, hypersomnia, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and therefore he is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, early hypertensive heart disease, and right bundle branch block are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records and medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, may not be presumed to have been incurred therein, and are not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's hypertension and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing in-service onset or connection to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and heart condition did not have their onset during active service or any period of ACDUTRA, and are not related to such. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a disability manifested by muscle and joint pain, and a digestive disorder all claimed as resulting from exposure to lead-based paint.