Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on several service-connected disabilities and for service connection for additional conditions has been withdrawn. The Veteran's daughter, M.E.W., is recognized as the 'helpless child' of the Veteran for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, pulmonary condition, IHD, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or have exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected diabetes, and thus grants service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension do not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his TDIU prior to May 31, 2010 is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a comprehensive diabetes mellitus examination. The TDIU claim is also deferred pending resolution of the increased rating claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred as a result of service. The claim for heart disease, including coronary artery disease, is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, right shoulder tendonitis, and left shoulder tendonitis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension was granted with an effective date of February 1, 2007. The claim for erectile dysfunction was withdrawn during the hearing. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy and vascular disease were granted with initial ratings of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that hypertension was not incurred in service, may not be presumed to have been incurred therein, and was not proximately caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's heart disorder is aggravated by his service-connected sleep apnea. The claim of service connection for hypertension is also inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for hypertension was withdrawn. The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C, finding that both conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and left knee disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the latter claim. The decision also noted that VA had not provided a medical opinion regarding the relevance of in-service high blood pressure readings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and GERD to obtain additional medical opinions regarding whether his conditions are secondary to service-connected disabilities, as well as to consider other potential causes of these conditions. The Veteran also requested an increased rating for GERD, which is being referred back to the RO/AMC for further action.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, bilateral eye disability secondary to hypertension, GERD, and bilateral knee arthritis. The Veteran's blood pressure was noted on entrance examination but not within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's assertions regarding exposure to smoke and fumes were not supported by contemporaneous medical records.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and whether it was present within one year of his discharge from service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, TBI, hypertension, and TIA. The TMJ disability is currently rated at its maximum allowable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and hypertension as secondary to service-connected psychiatric disorders. The Veteran's claims are remanded for additional development regarding the relationship between his hypertension and PTSD.