Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been fully granted in a November 2014 rating decision, resulting in the dismissal of this appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a sebaceous cyst, low back disability, right hand disability, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's appeal was not successful in any of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including seeking supplemental VA medical opinions to address the etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary due to the need for additional VA examinations and development of evidence related to the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides outside of Vietnam, particularly at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding his hypertension and considering whether staged ratings are appropriate in light of Hart.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left knee disabilities, coronary artery disease, a scar associated with a coronary artery bypass graft, hemorrhoids, right urethral calculus, left inguinal herniorraphy, left wrist ganglion, and hypertension have met the percentage requirements for the award of a schedular TDIU. The combined rating is 90 percent since October 27, 2005.

The Board determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service, but was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to military service. As a result, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board is remanding the cause-of-death claim for a new medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected lung condition, without regard to any medication used to treat it, contributed substantially or materially to his death. The examiner must also provide opinions on the likelihood that any medication used to treat the Veteran's pulmonary hypertension contributed substantially or materially to his death and if the Veteran's pulmonary hypertension was caused by his service-connected lung condition.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and hypertension were not shown to be related to his active service, including any potential herbicide exposure. The Board found insufficient evidence to establish a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service, and he has been diagnosed as suffering from this condition. The other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's stroke was causally related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, service connection for residuals of a stroke as secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and high cholesterol, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The underlying claim for hypertension remains granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and lumbosacral strain are not service-connected, but his lumbosacral strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, but denied all other claims on appeal. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his active duty service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran has not been provided with an effective date or rating assignment.

The Veteran's hypertension, which has required continuous medication for control since at least 2008, warrants a 10 percent evaluation prior to March 28, 2014. From March 28, 2014, the Veteran's hypertension is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's death was caused by respiratory failure due to severe COPD, which was related to nicotine addiction. The Board found no service connection for any disability and concluded that the cause of death is not attributable to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's testimony as to the onset of elevated blood pressure and circumstances in which it was noted is credible. The Board also found that the records obtained from the Veteran's 1990 Social Security Administration disability claim are consistent with his claim that hypertension was noted at the first post-service medical evaluation about two years after service separation.