Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The claim of service connection for residuals of pneumonia was reopened but remains denied on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in permanent and total disability that is due to the loss or loss of use of one or both lower extremities so as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes or a wheelchair. As such, he is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and to provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board found no nexus between the Appellant's hypertension and low back disorder with his periods of ACDUTRA, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current eye disability related to military service or to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's color blindness is considered a congenital defect and precluded by law from being service connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for arthritis of the knees, but his skin disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, hypertension, heart disease, dyslexia, kidney disability, respiratory disability, and bilateral shoulder disability has been granted. He is also awarded special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The VA examiner found no evidence of hypertension during service and concluded that the Veteran's current hypertension is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure compliance with the prior remand instructions and to obtain a comprehensive medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is caused by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's hypertension and abdominal aortic aneurysm have been evaluated as they are, with no additional compensation awarded.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records. The issues include service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, chronic sinusitis, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider the increased rating claim for hypertension with headaches as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2015.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and residual neck scar have been granted. The hypertension claim is pending as the evidence is in equipoise.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claim.

The case is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension and presumed herbicide exposure in service, including whether it is at least likely that hypertension is causally related to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back disability, psychiatric disability, or hypertension that were incurred during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension, which was listed as a contributing factor in his death, may be service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service. Additionally, an opinion is needed on whether the Veteran had ischemic heart disease or lung cancer that contributed to his respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.