Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service connected as it is more likely than not a result of his fall during service, which did not include any neck injury. The Veteran also does not have evidence to support the claim that his current condition is secondary to his service-connected back disability.,Beginning from March 2, 2004, the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with L5 spondylolysis and T5 vertebral fracture has been rated at 60 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Reserve records and providing an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension and heart disorder.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chondromalacia and osteoarthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 50% disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective April 5, 2014, based on his service-connected disabilities. The combined rating of these conditions meets the criteria for a TDIU as of July 31, 2008.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain and/or fracture, low back pain, tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and diverticulitis. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the available records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol is denied as it does not constitute a disability. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression due to lack of verification of claimed stressors. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral ankle disorder, arthritis of hands, and hypertension will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was caused by pulmonary hypertension, but the Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and determine if any of the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest, which is not service-connected. The underlying causes of hypertension and interstitial lung disease are also not service-connected on a presumptive basis due to Agent Orange exposure. Diabetes mellitus, while presumed service-connected, did not contribute to the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Capital Regional Medical Center on September 6, 2012 is denied as the condition was not an emergency and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer and related conditions are presumed to be due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board also finds it is at least as likely as not that these conditions have caused or contributed to his other diagnosed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to unclear reasoning and failure to consider a June 2004 decision granting another veteran entitlement to disability benefits for diabetes mellitus resulting from herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted an initial noncompensable rating for hypertension, but found that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled video-conference hearing before the Board. The case will be rescheduled at the Beckley VA Medical Center.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension or stroke that is related to service, and therefore, denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether his hypertension is related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his private medical records, including those from Dr. Calin Badea and Winn Army Community Hospital.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the appellant's hypertension and his military service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The lung disability claim is still pending.