Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is caused by or proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an examination and opinion from another VA examiner regarding the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, eating disorder, and their relationship to her coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension. The case is also being returned for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he contends was incurred during his active duty service or caused by his service-connected disabilities. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not show that his blood pressure readings have predominantly been 110 or more for diastolic pressure or 200 or more for systolic pressure during the appeal period. Therefore, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange. The Board also found no evidence of a direct relationship between diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not individually or collectively preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, particularly of a sedentary nature.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during service, are not related to his service-connected PTSD, and do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes and multiple noncompensable disabilities has been withdrawn. The Board also finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by difficulty breathing, hypertension, or chloracne.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is found to have caused his coronary artery disease (CAD). The Board grants the claim for service connection for CAD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted with a rating in excess of 50 percent from January 20, 2016 onwards. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are denied as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's esophageal cancer and diabetes mellitus are not service connected.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents, and was not caused or aggravated by the service-connected PTSD.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, hypertension increased in severity proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted. The issues of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary artery disease with congestive heart failure and an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on the basis that it was aggravated by service, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's hypertension, for which he is already service-connected, has not met the criteria for a compensable initial evaluation based on his blood pressure readings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, fatigue, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA opinion on whether his sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by his service-connected asthma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an updated VA examination and the provision of appropriate notice regarding how to substantiate a claim for entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hypertension have been denied as the required VA examinations were not conducted due to the Veteran's failure to appear without good cause.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of medical opinions.

The Veteran's current hypertension is not the result of in-service exposure to herbicides, did not begin during service, and is not related to service in any other way. Therefore, service connection for hypertension has been denied.