Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing officer's retirement and requests for another hearing. The issues of service connection for hypertension, headaches, and glaucoma are referred back to the RO.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of chronic symptoms during or after service, and no medical opinion linking his current hypertension to service. The Veteran's lay statements asserting a secondary relationship between his diabetes and hypertension were not considered sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for vitiligo and hypertension due to incomplete examination reports, lack of review of relevant literature, and conflicting opinions. The Veteran's claims will be returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, and difficulty in understanding complex commands. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, but the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not supported by competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claims for thoracic spine disability and hepatitis have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss disability were denied in the September 2008 Board decision. New evidence submitted since then did not provide sufficient material to reopen these claims.

The Board determined that a timely substantive appeal was not filed following the July 2008 rating decision denying service connection for various disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II, as well as to obtain any relevant treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 70 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's hypertension to his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection and rating for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, PTSD, and the severance of diabetes mellitus are not addressed as the case has been returned to the RO.

The Veteran seeks service connection for skin condition of the hands, residuals of a pituitary adenoma, and hypertension. The claims are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's application for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant was denied as he does not meet the eligibility requirements due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board determined that the Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are not related to his service-connected low back strain with limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 26, 2005, and a higher initial evaluation for service-connected hypertension is denied. The current evaluation of 10% is appropriate given the consistent blood pressure readings below the thresholds required for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, coronary artery disease, and hypertension are denied as a matter of law due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative changes is granted at 10 percent.