Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent and the evidence does not show that it warrants a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension as secondary to his service-connected epididymitis, finding no evidence that the epididymitis caused or aggravated hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are being remanded due to incomplete development. The VA will obtain a new medical opinion regarding whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus, or if they are related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records, provide proper notice regarding TDIU, and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 20, 2009. However, for the period on appeal from January 20, 2009 onward, his service-connected disabilities, as likely as not, precluded him from obtaining or maintaining such employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is a direct result of his service, as it existed prior to and continued after his second period of active duty. The evidence does not show that the condition was aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, alone, preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disorder, aching joints, stomach disorder, muscle deterioration, and sleeping disorder are found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appellant is therefore entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated according to the criteria set forth in the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The hypertension has been assigned a 10 percent rating, and the right and left ankle disabilities have each been assigned a 20 percent rating. The PTSD and MDD have been assigned a 30 percent rating effective July 28, 2015.

The Board denied an increased rating for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's diastolic pressure readings were predominantly below 110 and his systolic pressure readings did not consistently exceed 200. The evidence showed that the Veteran's hypertension was well-controlled with medication.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and hypertension have been granted service connection, with the former being characterized as a new and material condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and optic nerve damage and retinal folds, both eyes, with both issues to include as secondary to the service-connected disability of diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not begin during service and was not caused by or permanently worsened by any service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, with erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's statements regarding his hypertension are credible and by extension, he is competent to repeat a diagnosis he was given in service. Moreover, the Veteran's statements regarding his hypertension are bolstered by the fact that hypertension is a known manifestation of glomerulonephritis with proteinuria in the nephrotic range.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange, and/or as secondary to PTSD. The case will be adjudicated again after obtaining a supplemental opinion from the VA primary care physician.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension and denied service connection for arterial hypertension. The Veteran's eye disability, including refractive error, was considered but no new evidence was presented to reopen the claim.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that it was incurred or aggravated during service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depression but including posttraumatic stress disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a right leg vascular disorder, claimed as blood loss, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.