Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.,The Veteran's skin disability has affected less than 40% of the entire body or exposed areas, and no systemic therapy is required. Therefore, an evaluation higher than 30 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation, including due to aid and attendance or housebound status, was denied as he did not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected conditions. The need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status were primarily due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting a withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension. The Veteran's current diagnoses of chronic kidney disease and hypertension have been established, and a VA medical expert concluded that it is highly likely that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease had its onset during active service and caused his hypertension.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for Myeloproliferative Disorder (ET) or Hypertension due to herbicide exposure, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, including as due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal on the issue of service connection for hypertension is dismissed because it is not a justiciable case or controversy currently before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's service from August 1968 to August 1974 was under dishonorable conditions, and thus his second period of service is a bar to VA benefits related to this period. The criteria for entitlement to service connection for glaucoma, CAD, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension or bilateral hearing loss are not met.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service or due to a service-connected disability, and thus the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left tonsil squamous cell carcinoma, its relationship to service, and whether he has hypertension secondary to his tonsil disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 18, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and hypertension, as well as an increased rating for PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including verification of exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine and hypertension diagnoses were not caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the evidence, including VA examinations to determine the likely etiology and severity of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and PTSD to allow for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and issuing a statement of the case for the PTSD claim.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between her current disabilities and her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining issues are also denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling effective July 6, 2010. The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam and denied the remaining issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private mental health treatment records and a new opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his PTSD with depression.