Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD disability, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his conditions did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no competent, credible evidence linking any of the claimed disorders to his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to or hastened his death. The appellant claims that her husband was exposed to herbicides during service, had complications from his service-connected conditions, and did not have active cancers prior to his death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for eczema and hemorrhoids, as well as his service connection claims for muscle aches, fatigue, allergies, wheezing, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, and tingling and numbness of the skin. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to consider extraschedular considerations for the Veteran's eczema and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his PTSD. The claim for hypertension remains pending but not decided in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records and afford him new examinations. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, malaria, gout, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and ischemic heart disease (claimed as cardiovascular and cerebral vascular accident), finding no competent evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease are presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides during service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The claim will be returned to the Board after the hearing is held.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and missing records, including service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated for its onset during his active duty or ACDUTRA, and whether it caused or aggravated his renal disease.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted. The appellant's claims for accrued benefits and recognition as a helpless child were also denied.

The Veteran's hypertension has been adequately controlled with medication, resulting in systolic blood pressures predominantly below 160 and diastolic pressures not consistently above 100. As a result, the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertension, which was presumed due to Agent Orange exposure, could have contributed to his death. The appeal is pending further development.

The Board has awarded a 20 percent rating for hypertension effective from the date of the claim, and granted an increased rating to 60 percent for onychomycosis of the feet. The issue of entitlement to an effective date earlier than February 12, 2014 for the grant of a 60 percent rating for contact dermatitis is deferred due to its inextricability with other issues.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's current hypertension to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination and issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his diabetes mellitus. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU due to the lack of evidence showing he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's hypertension claim, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate examination to determine if his hypertension is related to service or any of his service-connected disabilities.