Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran was not found to have a current diagnosis of hypertension related to his military service, including due to exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. His PTSD claim is granted but with a specific disability rating.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the combined rating for these conditions meets the criteria for TDIU prior to December 23, 2014.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for service connection for residuals of a partial abdominal hysterectomy, hypertension, and migraines. The Veteran's claimed conditions are not shown to be related to her military service.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for hypertension before a decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and pes planus were all granted. The diagnoses are considered to be directly related to his service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not start during service and is not related to any service-connected disability. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a right shoulder disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right leg disorder, left leg disorder, erectile dysfunction, bilateral knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, headaches, eye disorder, heart disorder, prostate disorder, neurological disorder, and gastrointestinal disorders. The decision was based on secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 and hypertension are not related to his active duty service. The claim for hepatitis C is pending as there is no evidence of record linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the service connection for all claimed conditions has been granted, but no higher ratings are warranted.,No effective date earlier than May 16, 2013, is assigned for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and VA/VA-authorized treatment records.

The Veteran did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam and is therefore not a member of the Nehmer class. The Appellant has been awarded service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, and there are no unadjudicated or appealed claims that were pending at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus was rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating. The appellant is therefore denied an increased disability rating for diabetes mellitus.,Service connection for non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure associated with herbicide exposure could not be established based on the available evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings were denied across multiple conditions, with the Board finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased hearing loss and service connection for hypertension were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability, and there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for his hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for cervical spine disability, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The Board found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence (CUE) that these conditions were preexisting disabilities.