Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims. The Board found that there is no link between any of the disabilities and active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, hypertension (to include as secondary to diabetes), and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.,Service connection was not granted for tinnitus because there is no credible evidence that it began in service or is related to noise exposure. The Board found no current diagnosis of tinnitus, and the Veteran's statements about hearing ringing in his ears since service were deemed less than credible given the lack of documentation prior to 2011.,For hypertension, the Board noted the Veteran's long-term use of medication and good control over blood pressure, as well as the absence of any symptoms or diagnosis before 1982. The VA examiner opined that diabetes did not cause or aggravate hypertension, and there was no evidence of early-onset peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure.,Regarding peripheral neuropathy, the Board found no current diagnosis in the Veteran's medical records, despite his testimony about symptoms since shortly after service. The VA examination conducted in 2012 did not reveal any signs or symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's hypertension claim needs a VA medical opinion to determine if it pre-existed service or was aggravated by service, while his left knee disorder claim requires an addendum opinion to address whether any current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including CAD and DM with hypertension and ED, as well as associated peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and scar from CABG surgery, are restored effective March 1, 2015.

The Veteran's hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea were both found to have onset during service, leading to their grant of service connection. The Board also granted remand for further examination on the left knee disability and pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, and hypertension as they are not related to the veteran's military service. The character of discharge due to willful and persistent misconduct bars VA benefits for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, respiratory condition, high blood pressure, skin condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than schizophrenia). The reasons are to obtain missing personnel records and service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and numbness/tingling of the hands due to incomplete information in the VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and effective dates of December 1, 2009 have been established for all conditions. The appeal was accepted as a timely notice of disagreement with the January 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and diabetic neuropathy have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since October 27, 2010.

The Board has dismissed all the issues related to service connection and rating for hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, PTSD, and TDIU due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence to support a higher rating as there were only two instances where diastolic pressure was over 110 and systolic pressure was over 200. The preponderance of the evidence does not warrant an increase in the rating.

The Veteran's hypertension and right breast mass were not incurred in or related to her military service.,Her right ovarian cyst status post laparoscopy was also not incurred in or related to her military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected narcolepsy. The issue of reopening the claim for service connection for hypertension, which was previously denied in 2011 and remanded here, is also allowed.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of PTSD, an acquired psychiatric condition including PTSD, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension as secondary to PTSD or diabetes mellitus type 2 due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board also remanded several issues including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, DDD/DJD of the lumbar spine, erectile dysfunction, bilateral knee and leg disorders, and TDIU.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for tinea pedis was granted. Service connection is denied for tinea pedis, residuals of TBI, hypertension, and shin splints. The claims for residuals of TBI, hypertension, and shin splints are remanded.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service connected, but the other conditions and issues are not.