Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's hypertension and low back disability are found to be related to his military service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying the Veteran's in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to address the nature and likely cause of these conditions, as well as their relationship to his service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, or medications prescribed for right ear vestibular disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left knee disability, gout, hypertension, bronchitis, erectile dysfunction, and irregular bowel dysfunction. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following all forms of substantially gainful employment prior to December 27, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicides during service and a VA examination for his skin disorder.

The Board finds that the cause of death (cerebral hemorrhage) is not service-connected, and any pre-existing back disorder did not worsen during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examination. The Veteran's hypertension is being reviewed again with an appropriate VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication due to inconsistencies in the previous VA examination opinion regarding the onset of hypertension during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a finding that VA failed in its duty to assist regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension based on herbicide exposure. The Veteran will be provided with an additional VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including panic disorder and stress urinary incontinence, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not otherwise related to his military service. As such, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of hypertension and pseudophakia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to presumed exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma and hypertension, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service or the presumption of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension began in service and is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The bilateral eye disorder (hyperopia and astigmatism) is also considered secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining unit records and deck logs for the USS Mahopac during relevant time periods to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and opinion are necessary to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension. The case is REMANDED for these actions.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hypertension, left knee DJD, and right knee DJD. The RO will need to provide a new rating decision addressing these issues.