Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service, and he has been diagnosed as suffering from this condition. The other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's stroke was causally related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, service connection for residuals of a stroke as secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and high cholesterol, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The underlying claim for hypertension remains granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and lumbosacral strain are not service-connected, but his lumbosacral strain disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, but denied all other claims on appeal. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his active duty service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran has not been provided with an effective date or rating assignment.

The Veteran's hypertension, which has required continuous medication for control since at least 2008, warrants a 10 percent evaluation prior to March 28, 2014. From March 28, 2014, the Veteran's hypertension is rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's death was caused by respiratory failure due to severe COPD, which was related to nicotine addiction. The Board found no service connection for any disability and concluded that the cause of death is not attributable to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's testimony as to the onset of elevated blood pressure and circumstances in which it was noted is credible. The Board also found that the records obtained from the Veteran's 1990 Social Security Administration disability claim are consistent with his claim that hypertension was noted at the first post-service medical evaluation about two years after service separation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen service connection for hypertension, left Achilles tendon disorder, right knee disorder, diabetes mellitus, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), and low back disorder. The claims are now pending on their merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish that he met the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome, eye disability (presbyopia), or nosebleeds. His hypertension was found to have its onset in service and is presumed to be related to his military service. The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities are considered direct service-connected based on their manifestation during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee disability was withdrawn. The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension, effective from the date of the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension and found that new and material evidence had not been presented. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service dates need clarification and additional medical examinations are required to determine if his current disabilities were incurred or aggravated during periods of active duty, inactive duty training (INACDUTRA), or reserve component service. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension is also being remanded.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from October 31, 2011 to November 3, 2011 are granted as the treatment was for a condition of such nature that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to his life or health.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether hypertension is aggravated by service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension will be reconsidered based on the new evidence and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty and denied service connection for all claimed conditions as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.