Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his bilateral knee disabilities, hypertension, hearing loss disability, prostate disorder, and psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's hypertension is presumed service connected due to Agent Orange exposure. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that his current hypertension is related to his military service or blood pressure readings in service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability may be related to noise exposure during service, but the examiner should also consider whether any current hearing loss disability manifested within one year of separation from service. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran's prostate disorder may be due to Agent Orange exposure, but the examiner should also consider whether any other diagnosed prostate disorder is related to his military service. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that he has a current prostate disorder and if so, whether such disorder is related to his military service.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability may be due to PTSD or another diagnosed psychiatric disorder. The VA will schedule him for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed psychiatric disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran died from cerebrovascular disease/event, essential hypertension, AIDS and dementia. The Appellant claims service connection for the cause of death due to the Veteran's PTSD, which she asserts caused or contributed to his cerebrovascular disease and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, status post right nephrectomy, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, gout, and glaucoma.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD. The case is being remanded for further development and an opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension and presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for PTSD and TDIU has been granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent for PTSD, effective June 24, 2013.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The current evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his blood pressure readings have consistently been below those required for a 20% evaluation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment records and a new VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravated his current hypertension, entitling him to secondary service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection for a mood disorder with psychotic features has been granted and assigned an initial evaluation of 50 percent effective March 31, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to provide her with a Board video conference hearing on the issues of service connection for various conditions and increased ratings.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and hypertension, and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. Further development is needed to determine if his current disabilities are related to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus and PTSD with depression. The other issues were dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not related to his service and denied all of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability, including CAD, hypertension, and systolic heart failure, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim is denied.

The Board found no evidence of a TBI during service and denied the appellant's claim for service connection for TBI.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for tinnitus, a low back disorder, and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his in-service sinusitis and/or depression. The decision also noted that the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service, but did not find a direct link between his sleep apnea and this exposure.