Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the grant of a 100% disability rating for PTSD effective from December 12, 2013. As such, no further action is required on any remaining issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current respiratory disorder or right foot disorder, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied. The claims for dental trauma, lead paint poisoning, gout of bilateral legs, skin disorder due to Agent Orange exposure, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The hypertension claim was denied as the current rating is appropriate, and the coronary artery disease prior to January 1, 2014 claim was denied due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a higher rating. The left ear hearing loss claim was denied as it does not meet the compensable rating criteria.

The competent and probative medical evidence does not show that the Veteran's hypertension was present in service or within one year of separation, nor is there sufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between his current condition and military service. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran's hypertension is related to PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it is related to his service-connected heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hypertension that is attributable to her active military service and finds that it is less likely than not caused or made worse by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including hypertension, migraines, sleep disability (narcolepsy), sinus disability, and polymyalgia. The issues are primarily about service connection for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder or due to exposure to burn pits in Iraq.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected hypertension with mild renal insufficiency is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which are currently diagnosed conditions. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the likely etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of January 1, 2006 for the award of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU). The claim was pending since March 15, 2005.

The Board found no evidence of a heart disorder during service or within the one-year presumptive period following discharge from service. The Veteran's current heart disorder is not considered related to active service, including contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2 is currently rated at 20 percent. The claim for PTSD has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service but their exact status remains unknown. Hypertension was not caused by service.

The Veteran's hypertension, which first manifested in service and has continued since, meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD. As such, the Board resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and finds that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to or a result of his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain more recent records and provide him with a VA examination to determine the nature of his claimed conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, low back condition, acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD and depression), and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining new medical evidence and a VA examination. The issues include higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left wrist condition, diagnosed as a ganglion cyst, warrants a compensable rating of 10 percent. The Board has granted service connection for this condition and denied the remaining issues on appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension and back disability are determined to be related to his active service. The appeal for hypertension is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unemployable. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung conditions, including idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, did not manifest during or as a result of his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.