Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale provided by the examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected coronary artery disease. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria, as there was no evidence of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for hypertension, high cholesterol, a skin disorder (including rosacea), and erectile dysfunction. The Board finds these issues are inextricably intertwined as they all involve service connection secondary to diabetes mellitus. As such, the AOJ should first adjudicate whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes mellitus before addressing the other remanded claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating effective April 12, 2013. His low back disability was also increased to 70% from that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA and SSA records, which may contain pertinent information relevant to the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic strain of the bilateral inner thighs and a heart disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The claim for increased rating for mechanical low back pain was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the January 1971 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral flat feet. Service connection was not established for COPD, hypertension, hyperhidrosis, or eye disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension due to inadequate opinions provided by a VA examiner. The case is now returned to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of radiation or asbestos exposure in service. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's hypertension and left eye cataracts are found to be related to his service-connected type II, diabetes mellitus. The right eye condition claim is pending as a new SOC has not been issued.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to have had its onset during his active military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension has been granted a 10 percent disability rating effective April 11, 2013. Service connection for depression was also granted on the basis of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal regarding his May 2009 rating decision, which denied his claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is required to determine the nature and etiology of any current hypertension, as there is evidence of elevated blood pressure in service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension will be remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining records of post-service hypertension treatment and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected ischemic heart disease or due to exposure to herbicides. The claim will be reconsidered in light of these developments.