Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that esophageal cancer was not related to his military service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed heart disorder, hypertension, sleep apnea, and hyperlipidemia are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as the criteria for assignment of an earlier effective date have not been met.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right and left shoulder disabilities, back disability, hypertension, and left foot disability have been reopened. An initial compensable evaluation (10%) has been assigned for degenerative joint disease of the right great toe.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension had its onset during service or within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for systolic hypertension and diabetic retinopathy with cataracts, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating of 70% and his ability to engage in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension is well controlled with medication and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the appellant's testimony regarding the severity of his service-connected cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as a claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and provide a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected hypertension was either the principal or contributory cause.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, arthritis, cataracts, and gout. The appeal for nonservice-connected pension benefits is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's heart disease is related to his military service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including obtaining a supplemental opinion from the examiner who conducted the June 2004 VA heart examination regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current essential hypertension was not related to military service due to a lack of evidence of diagnosis during service and contradictory statements regarding its onset.,Service connection for a right knee disorder, claimed as secondary to a left knee disability, was also denied. The VA examiner concluded that the right knee disorder is more likely related to natural aging rather than any in-service injury or condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome and hypertension are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected PTSD, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout and hypertension. The decision regarding residuals of a fracture to the right fifth metacarpal is pending.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and reopened the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's current sleep apnea is related to his in-service complaints, while the evidence submitted since the August 1995 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA hospital on February 23, 2007 is granted due to the presence of an emergency condition and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service records and attempting to obtain records from specific hospitals.