Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to service-connected PTSD and whether it is at least as likely as not that his service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his hypertension. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and necessary opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and hypertension.

The Board found that current hypertension is not caused by, or increased in severity beyond the natural progress of the disease by, service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining statements from a friend who served with him and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right elbow disability is found to have been incurred in service, as the condition was noted prior to his last period of active duty and worsened during service. Service connection for this condition is granted.,Hypertension was first diagnosed within one year after the Veteran's separation from service, and thus presumed to be incurred therein. Service connection for hypertension is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a neck disability have all been denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of current ischemic heart disease or any other claimed conditions related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and a right shoulder disorder, service connection for cancer to include soft tissue sarcoma and squamous cell sarcoma as due to herbicide exposure, and service connection for hypertension as due to herbicide exposure or as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II and PTSD have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosis within one year post-service and the Board finds that his hypertension was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to May 24, 2011 and a higher rating from May 24, 2011 for service-connected hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for anemia was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.,New and material evidence has been received, reopening the claim of service connection for a cardiovascular disorder (to include hypertension and a heart murmur).,Service connection is not granted as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service incurrence of a cardiovascular disorder.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder claim based on his period of honorable service was denied due to dishonorable discharge, precluding VA benefits for that period.,There is equipoise (equally balanced) evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's skin condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to address his claims of service connection for obesity and hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ankle disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between his in-service injury and current condition. The hypertension claim was remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since the date of his claim on August 5, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected hypertension does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rate of SMC was granted, and the effective date for this grant was set at May 13, 2014. The Veteran also received an earlier effective date for his entitlement to SMC.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral polyneuropathy of the lower extremities and degenerative disc disease with a small left protrusion are rated at 40 percent for orthopedic impairment, and 10 percent each for mild incomplete paralysis of the left and right lower extremity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's allergic rhinitis and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The case is being remanded to further develop evidence regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for hypertension or sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, or PTSD.,Both conditions were not diagnosed during service and are not shown to be related to any period of active duty.