Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the appellant's service dates and duty status, particularly during the claimed injury in August 1989. The appellant will be scheduled for a VA examination if his service in August 1989 was federalized.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and cardiovascular disorder due to incomplete records, including private treatment records from Dr. S.H., and a need to provide proper notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is as likely as not related to his active military service, and therefore grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's current hypertension is not presumed due to herbicide exposure, nor can it be considered secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during the claim period or shortly before the claim was filed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disability are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability and granted it. The claims for hypertension, left knee disability, right knee disability, residuals of malaria, and arthritis (secondary to shell fragment wounds) are also granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in unemployability. The case is REMANDED for an appropriate health care specialist to review the claims folder and provide a determination on whether the Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology, including whether it is related to his military service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of hypertension, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's hypertension and hypertensive heart disease and aortic stenosis with mitral regurgitation were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and are not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in unemployability. The case is REMANDED for an appropriate health care specialist to review the claims folder and provide a determination on whether the Veteran is unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) of the Board. The RO must ask the Veteran to clarify his preferred type of hearing and notify him of the date, time, and location if he chooses one.

The Board found that the Veteran's current glaucoma and hypertension were not related to his service or any incident of service origin, including exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disorder, as well as his claims for hypertension and a respiratory disorder. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not related to service or secondary to any service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, low back disability, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus (DM II). The appeals were decided on a direct basis as there was no indication of any presumptive conditions or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for a video conference hearing before the Board at the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The issue of hypertension will be remanded as requested by the Board.