Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service headaches, which are considered a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Arizona Department of Corrections and considering any new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability decision records. The Veteran's lumbar spine claim must be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims currently on appeal, including those related to type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, PTSD, diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glomerulonephritis and hypertension are related to his service, with the glomerulonephritis resulting from an in-service gastrointestinal illness and the hypertension being secondary to the glomerulonephritis.

The Veteran's hypertension and heart disorder claims are being remanded for additional development to obtain treatment records, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination, and determine the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, hypertension, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions are presumed to be related to service due to their onset within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's hypertension and chronic kidney disease are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for various disabilities have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to her active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome due to sepsis and cirrhosis, which were linked to his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,Prior to May 27, 2015, the Veteran's hypertension was rated at 10 percent. From May 27, 2015, forward, it has been rated at 20 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating for either period.,The Veteran's status-post discectomy and laminectomy with herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-5 was initially rated as 10 percent prior to May 27, 2015, and has been increased to 40 percent from that date. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was initially rated as 10 percent prior to May 27, 2015, and has been increased to 20 percent from that date. The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was granted a separate 20 percent rating effective May 27, 2015.,The Veteran's radiculopathies are rated under Diagnostic Codes 8520 and have been increased to reflect their severity based on the degree of impairment they cause. The Board finds no basis for granting higher ratings in either case.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, PTSD, and hypertension are all found to be related to his active duty service. Insomnia is not considered a separate condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is service-connected, as it began during his military service and continues to this day.

The Board is remanding the claim for further development and readjudication due to failure to comply with previous remand instructions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for flat feet and a psychiatric disorder, but denied the remaining issues. The Veteran's claim for hypertension was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. His bilateral foot disorder is not considered service-connected, his acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is also not service-connected, and he does not meet criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cardiovascular disease. Additionally, a new opinion regarding whether hypertension is aggravated by diabetes mellitus will be provided.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise on whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, and asthma are secondary to his service-connected organophosphate delayed onset injuries. As such, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, bilateral eye disability (claimed as dry eyes), right lower extremity disability, hearing loss, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for VA compensation purposes, his bilateral eye disabilities are not related to herbicide exposure, and he has not provided competent evidence of direct causation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to service, herbicide exposure, or diabetes.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not manifest during service, was not otherwise related to service, and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.