Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining recent treatment records.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hypertension is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for various conditions, including soft tissue sarcoma, gastric ulcers, memory loss, headaches, hearing loss, chloracne, hypertension, and bladder cancer. The appeal is considered 'denied' as no specific disposition was provided.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service-connected death benefits. The appellant's assertion is that her husband's brain cancers may have been caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including anxiety and depression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for conjunctivitis and service connection for bilateral hip disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were related to active service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hypertension is not related to his period of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a right fourth metacarpal fracture was also denied. Service connection was granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include major depressive disorder and an adjustment disorder).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting opinions and new arguments raised by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has granted service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service. The remaining claims have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, immune system disorder with mixed connective tissue disorder, lupus erythematous, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension and peripheral neuropathy are not presumed to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure.,Service connection for these conditions is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that they were incurred during service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The Board found no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date, and the initial ratings assigned for diabetes mellitus with complications were not in accordance with the criteria.

The Board denied service connection for pulmonary disease, lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims were not substantiated by new and material evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its etiology, including whether it is related to service or the service-connected right leg disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for mitral prolapse with hypertension on medication, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus. The increased disability evaluations for Type II diabetes mellitus are still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone or in combination have resulted in loss of use of one lower extremity (left) together with residuals of organic disease or injury which so affect the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. Therefore, she is eligible for financial assistance in acquiring an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, finding that it is not related to active service or any service-connected disabilities. The issue was previously remanded due to concerns about exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, a bilateral foot disability, and an eye disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam, and the conditions are not presumed to be due to such exposure.