Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound was denied as she does not meet the criteria for such benefits due to her ability to care for herself and lack of any service-connected disabilities rated at 100%.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and chronic bronchitis, but denied service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if he was exposed to commercial herbicides that contained dioxin and other contaminants, which could potentially trigger service connection.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and thus denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension based on direct causation.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation on account of needing aid and attendance is being remanded due to its inextricability with the referred issues regarding service connection for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. The referred issues will be adjudicated first.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The issues of entitlement to service connection have been raised.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney contusions, calcification, hypertension and end-stage renal disease were not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, skin cancer due to sun exposure, and erectile dysfunction (ED), all secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension during service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's claim for service connection is denied as there is no presumption applicable to his condition.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension aggravated his stroke or any residual thereof. The appeal is currently on hold for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice for a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, or hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities have been dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and valvular heart disease. The claim for service connection for valvular heart disease is granted as it was decided on the merits.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he did not have a pending claim for benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, he is not eligible for nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were not incurred or aggravated in service.,There is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension. However, this decision is vacated due to an error in interpretation of evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further development, including a review of the relationship between service-connected PTSD and hypertension.