Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for hypertension or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a heart condition were denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or event, and the current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy or hypertension related to service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hypertension, either as directly related to service or due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's skin condition was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial evaluations assigned for the disabilities granted by the February 2009 rating decision are not supported.

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

The Veteran's claim for additional special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) and 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(1) was denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially his cluster headache disability, which requires oxygen treatment, do not meet the schedular criteria for award of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a), but nonetheless are of such severity as to make him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability based on receipt of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for hypertension as it was incurred in service, with continuity of symptomatology post-service. The claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence that the condition began during or was aggravated by service.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of the cause of the Veteran's death, but denied the claim due to lack of entitlement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular conditions (including coronary artery disease and hypertension), sleep apnea, right lower extremity femur fracture, left lower extremity femur fracture, anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current cardiovascular conditions (including coronary artery disease and hypertension), sleep apnea, right lower extremity femur fracture, left lower extremity femur fracture, anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current sleep apnea, right lower extremity femur fracture, left lower extremity femur fracture, anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and pulmonary disorder to consider whether herbicide exposure during Thailand service warrants presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further examination to determine its etiology. His PTSD rating remains under review.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest within one year of service discharge and is not otherwise related to his active service. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was cardio respiratory arrest, secondary to cerebrovascular accident bleed and stage three hypertension. The Board found that these conditions were not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, but due to a remand order from the Court, the case is returned to the RO/AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia were evaluated. The right knee received a 10 percent rating, while the left knee was rated noncompensable due to pain limiting flexion to 90 degrees during flare-ups. The hypertension claim is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran died from acute coronary insufficiency, which may be related to service.