Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depressive features may have aggravated his hypertension, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the claimed conditions as they are not shown to be related to active service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which is currently diagnosed. The claim will be remanded to determine if the hypertension is caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability (coronary artery disease).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have contributed substantially and materially to his death from congestive heart failure, leading the Board to grant service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to PTSD, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and other conditions. The case is being remanded for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by service, and is not related to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board found that the proximate cause of the Veteran's death was not due to VA treatment, including Dilantin administration, and thus denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale provided by the examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected coronary artery disease. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria, as there was no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for hypertension, high cholesterol, a skin disorder (including rosacea), and erectile dysfunction. The Board finds these issues are inextricably intertwined as they all involve service connection secondary to diabetes mellitus. As such, the AOJ should first adjudicate whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus before addressing the other remanded claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating effective April 12, 2013. His low back disability was also increased to 70% from that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA and SSA records, which may contain pertinent information relevant to the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic strain of the bilateral inner thighs and a heart disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The claim for increased rating for mechanical low back pain was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the January 1971 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral flat feet. Service connection was not established for COPD, hypertension, hyperhidrosis, or eye disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to inadequate opinions provided by a VA examiner. The case is now returned to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of radiation or asbestos exposure in service. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's hypertension and left eye cataracts are found to be related to his service-connected type II, diabetes mellitus. The right eye condition claim is pending as a new SOC has not been issued.