Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his military service, specifically hypertension or ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have current disabilities of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, vision loss, neuropathy, or a mood disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent cardiovascular disorder, including CAD, CABG residuals, and CHF, is service connected due to aggravation by his service-connected PTSD. The Board also finds that there is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's recurrent pulmonary disorder (pulmonary hypertension and COPD) was aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and finds that the Veteran's current right ankle disorder is related to his in-service injury. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, IBS, GERD, prostatitis, hypertension, degenerative arthritis of right acromioclavicular joints, and triceps muscle injury are addressed on remand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional unit records from his service in Korea, as the current evidence does not confirm exposure near the DMZ where Agent Orange was used.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or materially contribute to his death. The VA medical opinion concluded that hypertension, which was first diagnosed several years after separation from service and treated with medication, was more likely due to established risk factors rather than military service or service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome and hypertension, both rated at 10 percent since December 1, 2009.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder, to include a heart murmur. The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, including skin conditions, neuropathy, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and a dental condition. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions and other procedural issues. The Veteran's conditions include PTSD, depressive disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, neuropathy of upper extremities, and neuropathy of lower extremities.

The Veteran's single permanent disability (coronary artery disease/ischemic heart disease) is rated at 100%, but he also has additional disabilities independently ratable at 60% (hypertension). Therefore, the Veteran does not qualify for housebound-rate SMP as his additional disabilities do not meet the required percentage rating.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since August 17, 2011. The Board found that the evidence supports a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have ischemic heart disease and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and for service connection for hypertension. The Veteran was not granted any new rating or effective dates.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Sears, and the Veteran is required to provide a release for VA to access these records.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's hypertension, which was not conducted as per previous remand instructions. The case is now being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing records and a need to obtain Social Security Administration disability benefits records.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as noncompensable since June 13, 2011. The Board granted an initial compensable rating of 10% for his hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or service connection in all cases.