Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Veteran's PTSD and alcohol dependence symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, disturbances in motivation and mood, and impairment of relationships. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and alcohol dependence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and for further development of the claims, including a new VA examination for anxiety disorder with panic attacks and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not receiving notice of a scheduled video-conference hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ after rescheduling the hearing.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of hypertension, as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions. However, the evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between any claimed condition and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and a bilateral hand disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and cataracts due to service-connected diabetes mellitus for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing addendum opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding it at least as likely as not that the Veteran developed this condition due to his active service. The claims for anemia, prostate disability, and gastrointestinal disability (GERD) were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and hypertension have been dismissed as withdrawn during a Board hearing. The claim of residuals of hepatitis C has not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation. The appeal is now pending for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a statement from the JSRRC regarding environmental contamination studies of Camp Casey. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board videoconference hearing to address his claim of entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability due to the service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the initial grant of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss, sleep apnea, and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for type II diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and hypertension is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which resolved in favor of granting SMC based on aid and attendance prior to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.