Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for hypertension service connection is being remanded due to a potential issue of CUE in the April 2003 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations. The claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left shoulder tendonitis, higher ratings for mitral valve prolapse and coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are rated at the maximum allowable under the rating criteria, which is a 50% disability rating. The Board found that her very frequent and prolonged attacks of severe economic inadaptability meet the criteria for this rating.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40% rating since May 24, 2006. A separate 10% rating for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also granted. The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10% rating. Bilateral hearing loss does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, lower back disorder, neck disorder, and hypertension due to incomplete records and the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for high cholesterol as it is not a disability for VA purposes. The claims for sleep apnea, diabetes, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service and no link between service and the condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a balance problem associated with PTSD and hypertension, finding that there is no relationship between these conditions and his in-service service. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's current hypertension may be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for cause of death is remanded due to inadequate development and evaluation of asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's PTSD, alcohol dependence, headaches, cirrhosis of the liver, GI disorder, bilateral knee disorder, kidney disease, spleen disorder, hypertension, keratoderma (a skin condition), and sleep disorder are all secondary to his service-connected conditions.,The VA has not provided sufficient evidence regarding the onset or causation of the Veteran's GI disorder, bilateral knee disorder, kidney disease, spleen disorder, hypertension, keratoderma (a skin condition), and sleep disorder. The Veteran’s hepatitis C is also under review for secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and the Veteran's stroke as secondary to his hypertension. The evidence shows that the Veteran had elevated blood pressure readings during service, which is considered a direct link to his current condition.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension associated with diabetes mellitus as the evidence does not support that it is proximately due to or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a lung condition have been denied. The Board found no direct evidence linking the conditions to service, including service in Southwest Asia. For hypertension, there was no medical evidence showing it was caused by or aggravated by service-connected PTSD. For the lung condition, there was insufficient evidence of a chronic qualifying disability under the provisions for Persian Gulf veterans.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a heart disorder, hypertension, and a pelvic mass due to insufficient evidence regarding the dates of active duty training (ACDUTRA) during which these conditions may have been incurred or aggravated.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if hypertension is related to service-connected PTSD, and to assess the current severity of PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for high blood pressure/hypertension and erectile dysfunction due to Agent Orange exposure or medications for PTSD. The Veteran needs to provide private medical records, including a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, and a VA examination is needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension as secondary to the service-connected disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's obesity, caused by his service-connected disabilities, was a substantial factor in causing his hypertension.