Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a pulmonologist examination. The issues of service connection for COPD and hypertension are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension were denied as there is no evidence showing that his disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability appeal is dismissed. The claims of service connection for renal failure, non-specific monoclonal gammopathy, interstitial pneumonitis, and hypertension are reopened due to receipt of new and material evidence. Service connection for heart disease remains inextricably intertwined with the renal disease claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension clearly and unmistakably existed prior to active military service and did not undergo an increase in severity during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his complete service personnel records and conduct additional examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for DM, a right hand disability, left hip disability, hypertension, bilateral foot disability, and PTSD will be addressed.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Baptist Medical Center Hospital from September 25 - 29, 2009 were denied as the emergency treatment was not considered to be of such nature that a prudent layperson could have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention would be hazardous to life or health.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The appeal is related to presumptive exposure to herbicides, which may affect his diabetes claim.

The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a compensable rating, and his right Achilles tendon repair does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD claims will be reviewed again with additional examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left hip degenerative arthritis, status post total left knee replacement, right knee arthritis, hypertension, and left knee internal derangement, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board grants Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his service-connected disabilities, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for the withdrawal of his claims regarding hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and the reopening of his claim for coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeal regarding lung cancer, hypertension, and headaches.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service combat noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The remaining claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal for an initial compensable rating for hypertension. The claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied as there are no questions of fact or law remaining before the Board.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, chloracne, bilateral cataracts, hyperlipidemia, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities have all been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA audiological examination and issuance of an SOC regarding the issues of service connection and reopening claims.

The Veteran's death was caused by atherosclerotic heart disease, which is not service-connected. The Board finds no persuasive medical evidence linking the Veteran's fatal conditions to his military service.