Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Veteran's cause of death, septic shock due to intra-abdominal infection, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is etiologically related to his service, and hypertension with hypertensive renal insufficiency was incurred in active service. The claim for hypercholesterolemia is denied as it does not constitute a disease or disability for which VA benefits can be granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were granted, with a rating of 10 percent each. The claim for bronchial asthma was not addressed as it is separate from the other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension and hemorrhoids, but did not assign a compensable rating for either condition.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical services at Northwest Texas Hospital were not reimbursable because a VA facility was feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused or contributed to by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking the fatal conditions to service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the addition of a secondary service connection claim for polyneuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as 10 percent disabling and no higher.,High cholesterol, a laboratory finding, cannot be service connected.

The Board has remanded the secondary service connection claim for hypertension due to a lack of clarity in the February 2012 VA examiner's opinion and the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the same examiner or another qualified VA clinician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions and the need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, to include major depressive disorder and anxiety, is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current hypertension is related to service, including the elevated blood pressure readings in service. The issue of service connection for hypertension will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA hypertension examiner regarding whether vascular hypertension is caused or aggravated by service-connected major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence.

The Veteran's hypertension claim was reopened, but the claim for service connection remains denied.,Right hip disability and right eye disability claims were both denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent for locking, pain and effusion into the joint. Beginning July 17, 2012, he has a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee joint.,For his left knee disability, the Veteran receives a 20 percent rating for locking, pain and effusion into the joint. He does not have any limitation of motion warranting an additional rating.

The Veteran's timely Substantive Appeal allowed for the reopening of his claims and granted him increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain, effective from October 6, 2009.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension, which is currently secondary to diabetes.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic, identifiable sleep disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder (claimed as Sleep Apnea).,Hypertension was first noted after service and not related to service. The Board also denied service connection for hypertension.