Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for service connection for PTSD cannot be substantiated due to lack of a current diagnosis and no evidence linking the claimed condition to service. The claims for service connection for arthritis, DDD, hypertension, and CAD are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a mental disability. The claims for heart disease and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether hypertension is related to in-service herbicide exposure and service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current blood pressure readings.

The Veteran's service-connected peripheral artery disease of the lower left extremity was granted a 40 percent evaluation effective February 1, 2009. A noncompensable rating was assigned for hypertension and acid reflux disease.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for skin cancer, hypertension, high cholesterol, residuals of a stroke, and neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hypertension during service and it is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service. The claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with a 50% rating effective February 1, 2013. The Board is remanding the case to issue a statement of the case regarding the issue of an earlier effective date for this award.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, all claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or any other herbicide, nor did any medical provider link these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address his hypertension claim and another VA examination to determine if his PTSD with depression and alcohol abuse are related to service. The TDIU issue will also be addressed.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further development to determine if it is related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and adductor longus tear do not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule. The evidence does not show symptoms warranting higher ratings, and the preponderance of the evidence is against granting any additional compensation.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as 10 percent disabling since the May 2007 claim, based on his history of diastolic pressure predominantly over 100 and the need for continuous medication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's hypertension was found to be caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a disability manifested by prostate enlargement is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to his period of service.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable, and his obstructive sleep apnea with asthma is currently rated at 60 percent. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and requesting an expert opinion on the Veteran's foot disability. The claims of service connection will be adjudicated again.

The Veteran's lung disability, asthma, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease with hypertension and a history of myocardial infarction, bronchitis, and sinusitis based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.