Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for high blood pressure and acid reflux, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to Agent Orange exposure or secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease (including coronary artery disease), and hypertension. The decision found that there was no evidence of actual exposure to Agent Orange during service or a compensable onset within one year post-service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of service-connected disabilities, including hypertension. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was blunt force trauma to the head.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his private hospitalization from October 5, 2010, through October 8, 2010 are being remanded for further development to determine if payment or reimbursement can be made beyond the point of stabilization.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment for which the Veteran's education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him, thus meeting criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA compensation and service connection for hypertension and/or cerebellum artery rupture due to a lack of qualifying service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including verification of in-service stressors and evaluation of current psychiatric disorders, left leg disability, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected Crohn's disease, heart disorder, and right ankle sprains. The Veteran was also denied entitlement to TDIU prior to June 26, 2010, and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) prior to June 11, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a vocational examination and re-adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board has previously denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, but the case is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an initial 50 percent rating for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the May 2008 decision. The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is found to aggravate his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 25, 2008. He is granted a TDIU based solely on his PTSD and also qualifies for SMC at the housebound rate effective December 25, 2008.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The case is being remanded for further factual development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities and exposure to chemical hazards during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction did not manifest during service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability.,Similarly, the Board determined that hypertension did not manifest during service and is also not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing. The issues include service connection for kidney disorder and hypertension secondary to diabetes, higher initial ratings for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and sleep apnea, finding that both conditions are proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service-connected cardiomegaly, and thus denied this claim. The remaining issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for cardiomegaly and for service connection of the residuals of a CVA are remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not need a higher level of care without which he would require hospitalization, nursing home care, or other residential institutional care. Therefore, SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(r)(2) is denied.