Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for a recurrent right shoulder disorder to include a rotator cuff tear, and the Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, a lung disorder due to mustard gas exposure, and a skin disorder due to mustard gas exposure. The Board also found that there is no credible evidence linking any current respiratory or psychiatric conditions to his service.

The Veteran's current tension-type headaches are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected disabilities, including the medications required for those disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), coronary artery disease (CAD), and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to or aggravated by his military service and any service-connected disabilities, including medications prescribed for those conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to have been incurred due to its lack of manifestation within one year of service. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's radiculopathy and hypertension were not incurred in service, but granted service connection for her low back disorder (including lumbar radiculopathy) as a direct result of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis and hypertension remain pending as the Board has remanded them due to inadequate examination reports. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and the initial rating for PTSD, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's current symptoms did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, malaria residuals, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of in-service occurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with an addendum opinion regarding his hypertension, including as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Board has reopened the claims for right elbow and right hand disabilities, granted service connection for chronic sinusitis, cervical spondylosis, and hypertension, and denied all other issues on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a special VA aid and attendance/housebound examination.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and aortic stenosis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected hypertension with chronic renal insufficiency and major depressive disorder.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as it was not incurred in or related to active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The opinion provided concluded that the Veteran's hypertension is less likely than not related to his military service or caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.