Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected discogenic disease of the lumbosacral junction, chondromalacia patella, left knee, with degenerative changes, and chondromalacia of the right knee are not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The Veteran's hypertension is also not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are not otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 30 percent initial rating, effective February 8, 2010. The primary basis for this decision is the occupational and social impairment caused by symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, difficulty understanding complex commands, and memory impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of TDIU was granted, with the effective date set at May 14, 2010. The Veteran had been service connected for various conditions including PTSD and multiple musculoskeletal issues since April 25, 2008.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency transportation on February 15, 2010 are eligible for payment due to the nature of his symptoms and liability.

The Veteran's death is being reviewed to determine if it was caused by VA care or treatment, and whether the cause of his death was reasonably foreseeable. The case is being remanded for further review.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for dysthymia and hypertension, which are considered acquired psychiatric disorders.,Service connection was denied for left knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed related to service. The preponderance of evidence indicated that the condition did not relate to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and review new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it is chronically aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for HTN and did not grant an increased rating for IVDS or TDIU. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, finding that the newly received evidence is cumulative or redundant and does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is causally related to his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and hypertension, finding that these conditions are related to service. The claim for colonic diverticulitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus Type II, diabetic retinopathy and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as complications of his diabetes, hypertension, and Dupuytren's contractures. Service connection is also granted for essential hypertension, but not related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, depression (also claimed as anxiety and sleeplessness), hypertension, headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, and tachycardia are all due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The service connection is granted.