Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and skin cancer. The Veteran will be provided with an opportunity to submit updated VA treatment records, as well as obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hypertension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hypertension is not secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim. However, due to new evidence of kidney involvement in a January 2010 VA abdominal CT scan, the Board has ordered additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis, sinus disorder, and right inguinal hernia. Service connection for hypertension was not established due to lack of evidence linking the condition to herbicide exposure or military service. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent since April 19, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, thyroid condition, and sleep apnea with CPAP due to missing service treatment records and the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and Parkinson's disease. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active service or any other compensable exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of the evidence in Virtual VA and VBMS databases. The case will be readjudicated after all necessary actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's heart disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and are not related to his service-connected PTSD.,Veteran has not been shown to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus and an initial disability rating of 40 percent for diabetes mellitus. The issues of service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and hypertension, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these claims. The RO also denied service connection for left knee disability secondary to right knee disability and rated dysthymic disorder at the highest available level (50%) and enucleation of the right eye at 40%. A TDIU claim was not addressed.

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits was denied as he did not have an employment handicap despite having multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for his hypertension or right leg pain, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence was not in equipoise and did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran does not meet the medical criteria for a diagnosis of hypertension, and no current disability has been assigned at any time during the pendency of this appeal.,VA examination in December 2010 found that the Veteran currently has residuals of a Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), but did not establish a causal relationship between her service-connected condition and these residuals.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's fatal liver cancer and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's cause of death, acute myocardial infarction, is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants the claim for service connection for cause of death.