Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new examinations for hypertension and knee disabilities.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a current disability related to low back strain incurred in service. The Veteran's hypertension claim has not been addressed due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension requires continuous medication for control, but his systolic pressure has been predominantly less than 160 and diastolic pressure has been predominantly less than 100. The Board found that the criteria for a compensable rating were not met due to insufficient evidence of predominant readings at those levels.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for kidney disorder, hypertension, and gout. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his active service or presumed herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's hypertension and macular degeneration are related to service or any verified periods of active duty. The AOJ is also instructed to verify any periods of ACDUTRA in the Army National Guard.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Veteran's claimed conditions have not been linked to service, and the Board finds that these claims are denied.

The Veteran's current hypertension disability is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. For the initial rating period from October 25, 2006 to February 19, 2010, the Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder was rated at 50% due to significant social and occupational impairment. Since February 19, 2010, the disability has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides, thus denying service connection for his right eye disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not have its onset during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed photophobia began in service and has persisted since then. The issue of service connection for hypertension is dismissed as the Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with associated depression. The Veteran's PTSD with associated depression is awarded an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and right nephrectomy due to cancer, as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for rhinitis and chronic vertigo is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left orchiectomy (left testicle injury), prostate disorder, bladder disorder, heart disease, and hypertension have been denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's hypertension is not shown to be related to service, and the Board finds that it did not manifest within one year of separation from service. The claim for service connection based on herbicide exposure is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and vision loss, both secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DM), are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for condyloma accuminata and erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board found no evidence of penile deformity in the case of erectile dysfunction, which precludes a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.,Service connection for hypertension was also denied as there is no evidence of chronic disease during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.