Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acid reflux, sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD with alcohol abuse and dysthymic disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU effective October 15, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's hyperpigmentation of the face and neck, right knee disorder, and back pain are all found to be related to his service-connected Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB). The heart disorder and hypertension were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death, but the claim for DIC benefits is granted as a greater benefit than death pension benefits. The claim for accrued benefits and death pension benefits are also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to outstanding private treatment records and other issues.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD) is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and grants service connection for CAD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no current disability to account for the abnormal lab results and his skin and nail conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's left eye disability was granted a 30% rating, effective from the date of the January 2011 VA examination. His hypertension and lumbar spine condition were also granted increased ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current scleritis of both eyes, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pneumonitis, sleep apnea, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than a psychoneurotic reaction, depressive reaction, to include PTSD, and hypertension are pending.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are all secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and associated alcohol and substance abuse.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for appropriate action due to incorrect notification of her rights.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type I.