Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The issue of service connection for hypertension remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the veteran's hypertension and service-connected PTSD, CAD, and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board has expanded the issue to include all of his service-connected orthopedic disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have confirmed exposure to herbicides during service, and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for any of the claimed conditions. The claims were denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for hypertension has been withdrawn during his March 2014 videoconference hearing. The case is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for an examination by a neurologist to determine the current severity of his service-connected epilepsy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and incomplete medical records, requiring a new VA hypertension examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is service-connected and has granted a 10 percent disability rating for his hypertension.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary prior to adjudicating the claims on the merits, including obtaining private treatment records and arranging for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current condition and exposure to chemicals during basic training. The VA examiner needs to provide a clear opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, including exposure to chemicals.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and ischemic heart disease did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The underlying causes of death were advanced respiratory failure, malnutrition, cachexia, COPD, and pneumonia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need to consider whether it is at least as likely as not that his hypertension was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for hypertension with renal insufficiency, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address issues of service connection and rating for hypertension, left leg disability, PTSD, right thigh shrapnel wound residuals, and a total rating based on unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's Army Reserve service dates. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea are now pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining specific dates of service and medical opinions regarding the etiology of hypertension and eye conditions.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at a non-VA facility from May 13, 2010, to May 15, 2010, is dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.,The Board has determined that the appellant was entitled to payment or reimbursement for unauthorized private medical expenses incurred during December 21, 2010, to December 30, 2010, at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, back disability, kidney disability, and hypertension. The Board finds that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to active duty service or to pre-existing disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including hypertension, left ankle sprain, right shoulder impingement, residuals of rib fracture, and post-operative residuals of a meniscectomy, have been granted. The appeal is resolved in favor of the Veteran.