Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a BVA hearing. The issues of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, prostatitis, and hypertension are still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service, and therefore denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, left and right ankle disabilities, and hypertension were dismissed due to withdrawal. The Veteran does not have moderate limitation of motion in his ankles or any significant pulmonary symptoms related to sarcoidosis. His hypertension requires continuous medication but does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's hypertension was rated at 10 percent since January 12, 1998 to December 29, 2006. Since then, the disability has not met the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, upper and lower extremity disabilities, and bilateral eye disability have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability determination records.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of type 2 diabetes mellitus was denied, and his service connection claim for hepatitis C was also denied.

The Veteran's hypertension was not present during service or within one year of discharge, and is not otherwise related to service.,A heart condition (other than hypertension) was not present during service or within one year of discharge, and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's current sleep apnea was at least as likely as not incurred during his active service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether or not the Veteran incurred hearing loss and tinnitus during his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS DEHAVEN (DD 727) and determining if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and therefore cannot establish herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II; neuropathy of the lower extremities; hypertension; vision disorders (glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy); and erectile dysfunction are denied as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy; and hypertension were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not increase in severity during service, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain relevant medical records and service treatment records, as well as verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if any current low back, hypertension, or bilateral feet disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, end-stage renal failure, and anemia are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure history and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service and his death. The issues of service connection for cerebrovascular disease and cause of death are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology and date of onset for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and new and material evidence claims for various disabilities. The Veteran's file was reviewed by a VA podiatrist to determine the relationship between his current bilateral plantar fasciitis and heel complaints in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for service-connected peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and has also denied his request to reduce the evaluation from 20 percent to zero percent effective October 1, 2012. The Veteran is currently receiving a noncompensable evaluation for PUD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and a heart disorder, finding that there was no chronic disease shown in service. The low back disability claim is also denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent.