Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as 10 percent, but the claim for service connection of nonischemic cardiomyopathy was denied due to lack of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is service connected, as it resulted from an injury in service. The psychiatric disabilities and hypertension are also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his disability. His hypertension and bladder disorder are not separately compensable.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied.,No effective date has been assigned as the claims are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected cold injury foot disabilities are considered to have contributed to his death from a cerebral hemorrhage and/or subdural hematoma after a fall.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current COPD and related respiratory disabilities are related to service, as his preexisting COPD worsened during active duty.

The Veteran's hypertension is at least in part caused by his service-connected PTSD. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for hypertension.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions and denied all claims.

The Veteran's hypertension, cervical spine DJD/arthritis, and migraine headaches are all granted service connection. The hypertension is presumed due to active service, the cervical spine DJD/arthritis is presumptively related to service, and the migraine headaches are secondary to the cervical spine condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as they are not related to his active service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset in service or manifest to a compensable degree within one year of his active duty service, and is not proximately due to, the result of or aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension and granted it, finding that new evidence received since the August 2006 denial relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of his separation code, further details surrounding the events he claims caused his claimed disabilities, and to obtain any outstanding private treatment records from the Martin Luther King Clinic.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disability to include hypertension was denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted, thus denying the reopening of his claim. His right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent due to marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 10% disability rating for scars of the forehead and chin was denied. The claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including PTSD with depression, were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's use of tobacco products was a substantial factor in causing his death, and to obtain financial information from the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his service-connected allergic rhinitis, hypertension, and left stomach scar.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and Achilles tendonitis is also denied.