Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected high frequency hearing loss of the right ear results in no worse than Level I hearing acuity, which does not warrant a compensable rating.,Hypertension is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service and did not manifest within one year of the Veteran's discharge from service.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to the addition of service-connected disabilities since his last examination, and the need for further examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during his military service and is not otherwise related to an event or injury in service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board also found that hypertension was not caused or aggravated by service-connected coronary artery disease or diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated in relation to his service-connected Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it did not develop due to her service-connected cervical spine disability, including the May 2004 cervical procedure. The VA examiner found no evidence of aggravation and concluded that the hypertension was more likely related to her elevated BMI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hypertension or chronic sinusitis that is attributable to her active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with chronic renal insufficiency and hypertension was granted an initial 60 percent disability rating from June 24, 2004 to May 7, 2009.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his employability. The case will also be referred to VA's Director of Compensation and Pension for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and erectile dysfunction have been granted, but the evaluations are noncompensable. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if there has been an increase in severity of these conditions since the last examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. The acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during his active service and was not aggravated by service. The evidence showed that he had pre-existing hypertension prior to entering into his second period of service, and it remained stable or improved during his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for the claimed granuloma of the lung and denied service connection. For hypertension, the Board noted that while there were some elevated blood pressure readings during service, no diagnosis was made at that time. The Veteran's post-service treatment records indicate he has been diagnosed with hypertension since 2008. Therefore, the claim for hypertension is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether it is more likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted. Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder that is secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of adequate reasons or bases in its February 2012 decision regarding the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated again, and her service connection claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hypertension is not causally related to her military service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion on whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private medical records, requesting an addendum opinion from the August 2012 VA examiner, and considering whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected PTSD, ischemic heart disease, or prostate cancer residuals.