Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and updating the family income calculation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected PTSD and does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were evaluated, but neither condition met the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Veteran died from kidney cancer, which is not service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides during service and thus could not establish a presumption of service connection for his other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, did not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 14, 2005. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU prior to that date.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and rheumatism, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and bilateral foot disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not attributable to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder and right shoulder disorder, reopening the skin disorder claim based on new evidence. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed to have started during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a video conference hearing at the RO in accordance with the Veteran's request.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus to his in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune or service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to these exposures.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and private medical records. Additionally, new VA examinations are required for the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to PTSD. His CAD is rated at 60 percent, and he is granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent for the left knee due to symptomatic removal of cartilage.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for hypertension and service connection for alcoholism and heart disability. The claim for service connection for alcoholism was denied due to willful misconduct, while the claims for hypertension and heart disability were denied as there is no clear evidence of a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension and sleep apnea are related to obesity, which is considered a natural progression from service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided that an additional medical opinion is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, which may be related to service or presumed herbicide exposure. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of increased evaluation for his knees and reopening of his hypertension claim are pending.