Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, to include as secondary to PTSD and ischemic heart disease, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical development.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension are granted as presumptively related to his service in Vietnam, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to July 27, 2011. The Board found that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. TDIU was granted for the period between June 1, 2011 and July 26, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, hypertension, kidney transplant, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied as there is no credible evidence that he served in Vietnam or was exposed to herbicides during his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's condition was an emergent medical emergency, and payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred on November 15, 2009 at CRMC is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for a clothing allowance, dental disability, and hypertension are being remanded. The claim to reopen his sleep apnea is also pending. The Board will schedule the Veteran for a hearing at the RO in North Little Rock.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, and sleep apnea are all service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain further information about his exposure to ionizing radiation during service and to consider the claims for service connection. The TDIU claim will be deferred until the service connection claims are resolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic low back disability and hypertension, both for accrued benefits purposes. The evidence submitted since the last denial was not considered material as it did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the underlying claims.,Service connection for hypertension could not be established as there is no evidence showing that the condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional records and further development.

The Board denied service connection for postoperative residuals of nasopharyngeal cancer and coronary artery disease with hypertension, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or a link to service. The Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange was not considered due to lack of evidence of service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected discogenic disease of the lumbosacral junction, chondromalacia patella, left knee, with degenerative changes, and chondromalacia of the right knee are not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The Veteran's hypertension is also not shown to meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are not otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 30 percent initial rating, effective February 8, 2010. The primary basis for this decision is the occupational and social impairment caused by symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, difficulty understanding complex commands, and memory impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of TDIU was granted, with the effective date set at May 14, 2010. The Veteran had been service connected for various conditions including PTSD and multiple musculoskeletal issues since April 25, 2008.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency transportation on February 15, 2010 are eligible for payment due to the nature of his symptoms and liability.