Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being permanently housebound is denied because his helplessness and essential housebound status are due to multiple disabilities, including nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including ear, nose and throat disability, hypertension, thyroid disability, hypoglycemia, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes mellitus type II. The claims were denied as no new and material evidence was provided.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for hypertension was denied as he filed his application after one year from discharge, and no other legal grounds were established.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including whether they are related to service or any incident thereof.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II with retinopathy, cataracts, and GERD had shown improvement over a period of more than five years, supporting a reduction from 60% to 20% disability rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the claim, including a search for the Veteran's service treatment records and notification of the Veteran about other forms of evidence he can submit.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and hypertension. However, further development is needed to determine if new evidence supports these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as these issues are moot.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hypertension, which he claims is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The VA will also obtain any relevant recent medical records from the Memphis VAMC.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and atrial fibrillation were not related to service or a service-connected disability, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's hypertension and arthritis of the back, neck, and knees were not granted service connection or increased rating. The issues regarding residuals of shrapnel wounds to the right hand and arm and a chronic respiratory disorder due to herbicide exposure are unknown.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, with sedentary forms of employment being possible.

The Veteran's hypertension has been rated as 10 percent disabling since January 6, 2009. The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension more nearly approximates the criteria for a 10 percent rating but no higher.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a Travel Board hearing, and the appeal is not yet fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's hypertension was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and it may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current hypertension and his diabetes.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability within one year of discharge and that the hypertension is not proximately due or the result of his service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated, including as a result of exposure to Agent Orange.