Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a skin disability on the back, as well as his initial rating claim for right ankle disorder prior to October 18, 2011, have all been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for a VA examination from a cardiologist or specialist in hypertension to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed hypertension, and addressing secondary service connection based on aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating based on his blood pressure readings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on causation or aggravation by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not begin during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to his diabetes mellitus type II. The VA opinions are considered probative in determining that the hypertension was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, hepatitis C, and degenerative joint disease of the neck were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of in-service injury or aggravation leading to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee condition did not have its onset in service or within one year of separation, and is not related to his period of active service. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and major depressive disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension, left ear hearing loss, and otitis media were evaluated. The Board found that a 10% rating was warranted for hypertension but denied ratings for the other conditions due to lack of evidence showing compensable levels.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule a videoconference hearing. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the AOJ for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local VA office. The Veteran has requested a Board videoconference hearing, but his request was received prior to any Board consideration of his appeal.

The Board finds that the January 1995 rating decisions denying service connection for cold weather injuries and hypertension are not based on CUE. The Veteran's pre-existing Raynaud's syndrome was not aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the San Diego Healthcare System and service treatment records from the Veteran's initial period of service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability. As such, any VCAA error related to this claim is moot.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus type II and/or acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied the remaining issues due to lack of evidence or clear and unmistakable evidence of preexisting conditions.

The Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected heart disabilities, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for hypertension or PTSD. The evidence does not establish a medical nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his documented in-service incurrences, nor does it indicate that he developed these conditions within one year after leaving the service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis or manifestation of hypertension within one year after service and that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection. The VA examiner's opinion was given significant weight in reaching this decision.