Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and a 30 percent rating for PTSD, effective February 12, 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression and alcohol abuse prior to May 9, 2013, warrants a disability rating of 70 percent. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction requires insulin and a restricted diet but does not require regulation of activities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are etiologically related to his in-service combat stressors. The claims of service connection for low back disorder, hypertension, and bowel disorder remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a traumatic brain injury, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric condition have been denied. The denial of the PTSD claim is due to lack of evidence linking it to his honorable period of active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including low back disability, groin injury residuals, pulled abdominal muscle, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), breathing condition (chronic bronchitis), colon cancer, H. pylori infection, diabetes mellitus, gout, and hemorrhoids (precancerous condition). The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting back disorder was not aggravated by any period of active duty or ACDUTRA service.

The Board has decided that the hearing before a Veterans Law Judge should be rescheduled due to the hearing officer's retirement and the appellant's request for a new hearing. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient discussion of service connection for hypertension on a direct basis as the result of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's hypertension is not presumed by Agent Orange exposure, but an examination should be conducted to determine if it is directly related to his in-service exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's hypertension claim due to its inextricability with his diabetes mellitus claim, and also for additional development regarding herbicide exposure. The hypertension claim will be considered based on direct service connection or other relevant theories.

The Veteran's headaches are related to his service-connected blepharitis with meibomian gland dysfunction, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for a new examination to assess the current severity of his hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.,The Veteran's skin disability has affected less than 40% of the entire body or exposed areas, and no systemic therapy is required. Therefore, an evaluation higher than 30 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation, including due to aid and attendance or housebound status, was denied as he did not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected conditions. The need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status were primarily due to nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting a withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension. The Veteran's current diagnoses of chronic kidney disease and hypertension have been established, and a VA medical expert concluded that it is highly likely that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease had its onset during active service and caused his hypertension.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for Myeloproliferative Disorder (ET) or Hypertension due to herbicide exposure, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, including as due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal on the issue of service connection for hypertension is dismissed because it is not a justiciable case or controversy currently before the Board.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's service from August 1968 to August 1974 was under dishonorable conditions, and thus his second period of service is a bar to VA benefits related to this period. The criteria for entitlement to service connection for glaucoma, CAD, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension or bilateral hearing loss are not met.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service or due to a service-connected disability, and thus the claim for service connection is denied.