Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right index finger injury, hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and bilateral spermatocele. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and prostate disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service or exposure to herbicide agents (AO), and the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, specifically a need for a new VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected hypertension and pitting edema.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient evidence linking any claimed conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or related to his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including a claim for increased ratings, service connection claims, and TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of coronary artery disease should be set at March 2, 1998, as this is the earliest date on which a diagnosis was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, vision problems, tinnitus, neutropenia, nephropathy, and a dental condition have been denied. The claim for hypertension to include as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II was previously denied but new and material evidence has since been received.

The Veteran's appeals are being remanded for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disability and eye disability, as new and material evidence was received. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted.

The Board has determined that service connection for hypertension is not warranted because the evidence does not show a link between the Veteran's active duty and current symptoms. Service connection for a lower back disorder was also denied due to lack of a current disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating.,There is no service connection for a left shoulder disability or low back disability. The Veteran's bilateral hand disability and eye disabilities are not service connected.,Hypertension and prostate disability have been denied as well.,The Veteran's tremors of the hands, lips, and mouth were also not granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to service, specifically presumed herbicide agent exposure. The evidence does not support a direct or presumptive service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran was awarded special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance in December 2003, effective May 28, 2003. The appellant seeks accrued benefits for this increased monetary benefit but it has been determined that the payment was made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by service and could not be presumed due to herbicide exposure. The examiner opined that there is no direct link between hypertension and service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for hypertension, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and secondary service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, an eye disorder, and diabetic neuropathy all caused by his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and grants service connection for this condition.