Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran died of an acute myocardial infarction. The service-connected conditions (osteoarthritic changes of the lumbosacral spine and moderate right lower extremity weakness) are not considered to be a principal or contributory cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to address service connection for hypertension and increased ratings for shin splints.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection and aggravation of hypertension. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after obtaining further medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for essential hypertension and SMC, finding that his hypertension warranted a 0 percent disability rating due to continuous use of medication without meeting the criteria for higher ratings under VA's rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, bowel infarction, is not related to his service or a service-connected disability. The opinions from VA physicians concluded that hypertension and its complications did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's aortic stenosis or other conditions leading to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's current basal cell carcinoma and hypertension are not shown to be related to his active service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities have been denied multiple times, and new and material evidence has not been submitted in all cases. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities have been denied multiple times, and new and material evidence has not been submitted in all cases. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial disease, hypertension, and bilateral cataracts have been rated at 10 percent since July 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic fungal infections of the feet, including onychomycosis and tinea pedis, as well as his chronic sinusitis and hypertension are related to his military service. The evidence is in equipoise regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for liver disorder, gallbladder disorder, kidney lesions and stones, body stress rash release and trauma, polymyalgia rheumatic, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The remaining issues are pending.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims of service connection for stroke residuals and hypertension. The Veteran's assertions regarding these conditions are being considered.

The Veteran's hypertension and left carpal tunnel syndrome have been granted service connection, but the RO has not provided a compensable rating for hypertension or a rating in excess of 10 percent for left carpal tunnel syndrome. The case is being remanded to determine current severity levels.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tension/migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since July 31, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The Board finds the unfavorable October 2014 addendum report to be the most probative evidence of record, and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by her service-connected PTSD and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for consideration of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.