Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for additional medical examination. The appellant's claims for service connection for heart disease and hypertension are pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was metastatic cancer, which is not service-connected. The medical evidence did not support a finding that any service-connected conditions contributed to or caused his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to address whether his diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, or hypertension require regulation of activities. The issues remain on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address issues of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and bilateral elbow/knee disorders. The appeal is also referred back to the AOJ due to other unadjudicated claims.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, kidney disorder, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development including medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected depression is granted, and his lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent since September 9, 2009. His right knee patellar tendonitis remains at a 10 percent rating, while his hypertension continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's hypertension has not met the criteria for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent during the entire initial rating period on appeal.,The Veteran's right ankle strain has not met the criteria for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent during the entire initial rating period on appeal.

The Veteran's claimed conditions are not service connected as they do not have a direct relationship to his military service. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and the current diagnoses were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension and service connection for implanted cardiac pacemaker are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of new evidence submitted by Cardiac Consultants P.C. and Dr. M.

The Veteran's hypertension, BPH, and transient ischemic attack are being reopened due to new evidence. The lung disorder (collapsed lung) is not related to service.,Service connection has been granted for hypertension, BPH, and transient ischemic attack.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not develop during his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been productive of nightmares, a startle response, and hypervigilance. His GAF scores were between 45 and 48 throughout the period on appeal. The VA examiner found that his PTSD contributed to some of his symptoms but did not cause significant impairment in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left upper and lower extremity disability, left hand sweats, and erectile dysfunction associated with a cerebrovascular accident, are rated at the 20 percent level.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for hypertension, skin disorder, or joint pain due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's conditions are not presumed as a result of his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to service, including herbicide exposure. The examiner must also address the relationship between the Veteran's PTSD and his claimed hypertension.

Service connection for CAD and PTSD was granted with effective dates of April 17, 2009. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are service-connected. The claim for hypertension is pending as secondary to PTSD. The TDIU request is granted.

The Board found no evidence of shoulder injury or disease during service, and the Veteran did not present any credible argument to support his claim. As a result, the claims for service connection for shoulder arthritis, hypertension, heart disability, and erectile dysfunction were denied.