Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction and renal insufficiency with hypertension have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a stroke and hypertension are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA will obtain new opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his/her authorized representative.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are all found to be related to service. The Board has granted the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient clarification of the symptomatology of his sleep apnea prior and after aggravation by his deviated nasal septum, as well as a request for outpatient treatment records from Brooke Army Medical Center dating back to 1984.

The Veteran does not have hypertension or a heart disorder other than rheumatic valvular heart disease that is related to military service.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity were evaluated based on their current severity, with no additional evaluations granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand instructions and failure to consider all possible theories of entitlement. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed due to in-service herbicide exposure, but a medical opinion is needed to determine if this exposure caused his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a cervical spine examination. The claims of service connection for hypertension, rating reduction of low back disability, and TDIU are also pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across the board. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in most cases and insufficient medical nexus to support the Veteran's assertions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the criteria for a TDIU rating. The issue of whether hypertension is secondary to PTSD or directly related to service will be addressed in further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may such disabilities be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied as there is no evidence of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA medical personnel.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal request from the appellant's authorized representative.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that a service-connected disability did not cause or contribute substantially to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not first manifest in service or for more than three decades after his separation from service, and there is no medical evidence linking it to any aspect of his period of service. The preponderance of the medical evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's hypertension is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus with hypertension, fatigue, and erectile dysfunction has been manifested by a restricted diet, limited activity, oral medication, and insulin. The criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent have not been met.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for additional development and consideration, including to verify his alleged stressors related to PTSD. The claims will be readjudicated in light of all additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for additional private treatment records. The Veteran's claim is related to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain service treatment records and VA medical records, as well as to provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.