Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board has granted increased ratings for lumbar strain and left pelvic fracture disabilities, effective December 28, 2009. The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for PTSD and found that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of PTSD. Service connection is granted for hypertension, but not for sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral hand disability, or bilateral elbow disability.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cardiomyopathy due to new and material evidence. However, there is no current disability manifested by dizziness or fatigue other than cardiovascular disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examination and development, including obtaining VA treatment records from September 1993 to the present. The issues of entitlement to a compensable initial disability rating for hypertension and entitlement to service connection for residuals of a cerebral aneurysm are also being addressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, hypertension, a shoulder disability, benign prostate hyperplasia, fatigue, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, skin disorders, allergies, sleep apnea, and hyperlipidemia. The reasons provided were that there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events, injuries, or diseases related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and headaches. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbar strain are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for service connection, as there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied all of his claims.

The Board is remanding the case to consider whether an extra-schedular rating for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left wrist fracture should be granted, taking into account his multiple disabilities including hypertension and left ulnar neuropathy. The VA must also obtain any relevant SSA records and post-service treatment records.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, an examination for hypertension, and consideration of the Veteran's claim. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his hypertension, which he claims is related to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, kidney disorder, skin disorder, and foot disorder, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including lumbosacral strain/sprain, sleep apnea, hypertension, left knee disorder, erectile dysfunction, and urinary leakage, was denied. The rating assigned for the lumbosacral strain/sprain remains at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and hypertension for the purpose of receiving accrued benefits due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There was no direct or presumptive service connection established based on exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to service or secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and urinary incontinence, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation from service. The examiner opined that the Veteran's back disability did not cause his hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and kidney disease were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor could they be presumed to have been so incurred. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and coronary artery disease are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a direct link to his military service or any service-connected condition. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were more likely caused by other factors such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension itself.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service, including herbicide exposure, and is not secondary to a service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.