Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The lumbar spine disability is rated as noncompensable prior to September 10, 2007, and 10 percent from that date to May 21, 2013, with a 40 percent rating beginning May 22, 2013. The cervical spine disability was also rated as noncompensably disabling prior to May 22, 2013, and 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been granted, with some issues receiving higher ratings.

The Veteran's low back disability was found to have been manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 45 degrees prior to January 11, 2011. The RO denied an increased rating for this condition as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his hypertension and any diagnosed heart condition, to include left ventricular hypertrophy (chest pain).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be related to service and granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and is not proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or chronic renal disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine are granted as secondary to his service-connected compression fracture of L-1. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension did not originate in service or for many years thereafter and is not related to any incident during active service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability, chronic headaches, back disorder (including degenerative disc disease and sciatica), nail fungus of the hands and feet, sterility/erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and recurrent hemorrhoids are all connected to service. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased level of special monthly compensation based on the need for a higher level of aid and assistance has been denied as he does not meet the threshold requirements for attaining any of the required levels of SMC to warrant consideration of an increased rate based on a higher level of aid and assistance.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30% due to more than six non-incapacitating episodes per year with headaches, pain, and discharge. His hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7101. The Veteran's left spermatocele is not manifested by urinary tract infection symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, hypertension, and dysthymic disorder (claimed as depression) are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and vascular disease secondary to PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current lung disorder(s) and/or hypertension and service, and addressing the issues of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to potential in-service exposure to Agent Orange and a need for further examination regarding hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an incomplete record and a need to obtain private treatment records from Atlantis Healthcare Group.