Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling appropriate examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension and right knee disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by his service, and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred during military service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertension, which he claims is due to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The appeal will be remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if the Veteran's hypertension is related to his diabetes.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the upper extremities are all rated at their maximum allowable levels under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on housebound status was denied as he does not meet the criteria under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1521(e) due to his nonservice-connected disabilities and lack of permanent total disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and requests for a personal hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records related to hypertension. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (renal failure due to diabetes mellitus and hypertension) was not caused or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's diabetes was determined to be a Type I condition, while his hypertension is currently managed with medication.

The Veteran seeks an increased evaluation for his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II with diabetic nephropathy and hypertension. The RO found that separate ratings are not warranted since neither disorder is shown to a compensable level. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied. His claim for an increased evaluation for major depression between June 10, 2005 and March 25, 2007; an evaluation in excess of 50 percent between March 26, 2007 and April 27, 2009; and an evaluation in excess of 30 percent from April 28, 2009 forward was also denied.

The Board has denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for hypertension due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus as a result of exposure to Agent Orange was previously denied on the basis that there is no evidence of such exposure, but the Veteran submitted additional evidence since January 2004 which does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran's hypertension is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including psychiatric disorder, recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hypertension, post-concussion syndrome, bronchitis, transitional lumbar vertebra, neck strain, and seizure disorder. The appeals are based on direct service connection rather than presumptive or secondary theories.

The Veteran is entitled to housebound benefits due to his nonservice-connected disabilities, which combine for a rating of 70 percent. He also meets the age requirement (over 65 years old) and has served during a period of war (Korean Conflict).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his renal insufficiency with hypertension. The issue remains about entitlement to an increased evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for his diabetes mellitus.