Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to provide a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension, including whether it is related to service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the 1995 rating decision denying back disability. The RO also determined that the evidence did not meet criteria for an increased rating for orthostatic hypertension or micturition syncope.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension. The preponderance of the evidence shows that the Veteran's elevated blood pressure in service was not related to her current hypertension.

The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD effective April 15, 2011. The Veteran's claim was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence regarding his hypertension.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability, including PTSD. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, hiatal hernia, hypertension, GERD, bowel disorder, and sleep disorder due to insufficient development of evidence.

The Veteran's hypertensive heart disease has been rated at 60 percent since April 8, 2004. The current rating is appropriate given the level of left ventricular ejection fraction and workload.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis claims have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7101 (hypertension) or service connection based on direct evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including prostatitis, memory loss, refractive errors of the eye, wrist condition, sinus bradycardia, hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease, PTSD, sleep apnea, left elbow scar, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right hand middle finger acquired deformity, bilateral peripheral retinal degeneration with dysfunctional tear syndrome and vitreous floaters, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The claims were denied as there was no competent evidence of a service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease, is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining additional evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for additional development to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but effective dates earlier than the assigned dates are determined to be appropriate.,For headaches and gastrointestinal disability, service connection was established on a direct basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin disorders (tinea versicolor, seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis, and basal cell carcinoma), peripheral neuropathy, and ischemic heart disease were denied as the evidence did not support a direct relationship to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hip disability, to include osteoarthritis and DJD, is not related to his military service. The claim for hypertension was also denied.

The Board has remanded the issues on appeal due to a scheduling error, and the Veteran's videoconference hearing at the RO in Washington, DC is scheduled.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for the issues of bilateral foot and ankle disabilities, ovarian cyst, and heart murmur during a hearing before the Board. The remaining issue of service connection for a heart disability (to include pulmonary hypertension and hypertension) is pending.

The Board found that none of the service-connected disabilities caused or contributed substantially to the Veteran's death. The medical evidence did not support a link between Agent Orange exposure and the cause of death.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred. The Veteran's left knee DJD does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.