Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and Agent Orange exposure contributed to his death from malignant neoplasm of the kidney. As a result, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, hearing loss, head trauma residuals, facial scars, neck disability, and low back disability. The appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hypothyroidism due to lack of evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or Agent Orange. The Veteran's claims were also denied as the conditions are not considered diseases or injuries under VA compensation laws.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, and coronary artery disease (CAD) with stent and myocardial infarction. The appeal was also denied regarding a temporary total disability rating based on need for convalescence due to right knee surgery, as well as initial ratings for GERD and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased initial disability ratings and earlier effective dates for service-connected diabetes mellitus, and an increased initial disability rating for diabetic nephropathy were withdrawn in July 2014. The claims are therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for additional development to determine if it is proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation, and the preponderance of the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Board has decided the case requires additional development due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between hypertension and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim for tinea pedis remains on appeal as it was not reopened. His hypertension claim is also pending with a secondary basis to PTSD and medication. The rating for PTSD remains in dispute.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease, or a combination of both conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown during service or within one year post-service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms. The VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not that the hypertension had its onset during service or the first post-service year.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and related complications. The issue of TDIU after January 14, 2008 remains on appeal.

The Veteran's CAD, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all found to be related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran's CAD is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service hyperlipidemia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right eye disability related to service and denied his claim for service connection. For hypertension, the Board found insufficient evidence to establish its current existence or etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's hypertension has not been manifested by blood pressure readings with a diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or a systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more at any time during the appeal period, and thus does not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing adequate notice regarding service connection criteria.

The Veteran's claim for beneficiary travel reimbursement is being remanded. The Board will attempt to obtain the Veteran's initial claim for these benefits and then readjudicate his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD was granted, with a rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include PTSD, hypertension, and hepatitis C.