Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its related complications. The issues are primarily about service connection for these conditions due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for coronary artery disease, status post myocardial infarction, was granted with an effective date of October 14, 2011. The appeal is resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and high cholesterol were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, including his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, conjunctivitis, lumbar strain and spinal degenerative arthritis, sinusitis, hypertension, bronchitis, cervical degenerative arthritis with spondylosis with right arm radiculopathy, and degenerative arthritis of the arms, wrists, and hands. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after separation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypoglycemia, hypertension, cataracts, gallbladder removal, pes planus, left elbow and knee disabilities, left ankle and thigh disabilities, right knee and hip disabilities, lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, abnormal blood count, elevated cholesterol/triglycerides, ear pain, and rash on the back. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service or due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, chronic tinnitus, and a chronic headache disorder are not addressed as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent for the service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The claims will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's initial ratings for migraines, GERD, and hypertension have been granted but are currently at noncompensable levels. The Board found that the Veteran's migraines do not meet criteria for a higher rating due to their frequency of attacks being less than severe economic inadaptability. For GERD, the Board determined there is no evidence of dysphagia or significant impairment of health warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's hypertension is being remanded for additional medical opinions to determine if it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, presumed in-service herbicide exposure, or aggravated by his service-connected panic disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus due to inadequate VA examinations, and further development is needed.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his untimely death to his military service or to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and a right knee disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection in these cases.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran's hypertension is not shown to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and loss of vision in the right eye, claimed as secondary to hypertension, have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetic retinopathy of the right eye and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for hypertension secondary to diabetes mellitus type II remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension and fatigue are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service, including his Gulf War service.