Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of notice regarding outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, hypertension, and a skin disability are denied. The claim for service connection for a left chest cyst is also denied. Service connection is granted for hypertension and a skin disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated as a result of his service-connected psychiatric disability and/or CAD.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hypertension and bilateral eye disorder are not related to his military service. The claim for hypertension is denied on a direct basis, as there is no evidence of an indication or diagnosis of hypertension in service and the post-service treatment records note a history of hypertension beginning approximately 10 years after military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a thyroid disorder and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension is due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes, and the Board grants this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed hypertension and kidney disease, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on all pending claims before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spine disability and its impact on his ability to work. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated as part of this process.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, and coronary artery disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has denied each claim on the merits. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of residuals of electrical shock or second degree burns of either lower extremity. Pes planus pre-existed service and did not increase in severity during service. Shin splints are not shown to be causally related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The issue of ischemic heart disease is being held in abeyance due to a lack of evidence and further development may be required.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for left ankle disability secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and sleep apnea to allow for further development. The Veteran's obesity is being evaluated in relation to her service-connected psychiatric disability (depression with psychotic features and PTSD).

The Veteran's arteriovascular disease, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, is presumed to have been incurred during active service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disability (focal glomerulosclerosis with hypertension and status post myocardial infarction) combined with his educational attainment and occupational experience precludes him from maintaining gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any liver disability, renal cysts, hypertension, and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT).

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for hypertension was dismissed due to withdrawal. The reduction of the disability rating for his service-connected left knee disability from 50 percent to 20 percent was not proper, and the 50 percent disability evaluation is restored effective March 1, 2009.