Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete records from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding his service-connected duodenal ulcer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, and hypertension (HTN) have been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD with major depression and for a renal disorder (diagnosed as chronic kidney disease) as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran is now rated at the highest possible rating of 70% for his PTSD with major depression.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for CAD, hypertension, neck disability, back disability, and residuals of a head injury due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not begin during service or due to any incident therein, including claimed exposure to asbestos. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral heel spurs and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated during his active service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for atrial fibrillation, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and COPD as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's disabilities were not found to be directly related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC at a higher rate based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for type II diabetes mellitus, circulatory disorder, neurological disorder, kidney disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and eye or vision disorder have been granted due to herbicide exposure during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's sinus condition was not caused or aggravated by active military service.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for low back pain with sciatica, but it is not etiologically related to service.,CTS of the left upper extremity was not caused or aggravated by active military service or a service-connected disability.,Evidence received since the May 2007 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for diabetes mellitus; however, the Veteran's COPD is not etiologically related to service.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for hypertension. The evidence does not show that this condition was caused or aggravated by service-connected PTSD.,Fibromyalgia was not caused or aggravated by active military service.,The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for ureaplasma urealyticum (to include infertility, low sperm count, and low testosterone) has not been supported by new and material evidence.

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.