Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, PTSD, and depression due to lack of credible evidence supporting in-service stressors related to Vietnam service.

VA determined that the Veteran does not have a confirmed diagnosis of PTSD, as there were no records showing a current diagnosis at any time during the pendency of his appeal. Therefore, service connection for PTSD was denied. For the hypertension claim, VA found that the evidence did not show blood pressure readings reaching 110/80 or higher diastolic or 200/120 or higher systolic on a predominant basis at any time during the pendency of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether hypertension is secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart condition as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II. The issues of hypertension and diabetic retinopathy with cataracts are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that additional medical records and examinations are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for optic nerve atrophy, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hypertension is related to service or manifested within the first post-service year.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The non-treatment claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for the cause of death, nonservice-connected death pension benefits, and accrued benefits due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's death to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Rockingham Memorial Hospital from February 3, 2007 to February 7, 2007 was denied because he did not meet the requirement that he had received VA treatment within the 24-month period prior to the private treatment.

The Veteran's cause of death is Alzheimer's disease, with hypertension and benign prostatic hypertrophy as other significant conditions. The Appellant contends that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Korea, which caused or aggravated his diabetes mellitus, leading to his death. The Board has conceded exposure to herbicides but requires a medical opinion on whether the hypertension is due to or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Air National Guard and considering a statement from Dr. N.O. regarding the Veteran's hypertension condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disability and hypertension are related to his military service, including presumed herbicide exposure. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the effect of his service-connected bilateral pes planus on his employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing an original claim was filed prior to July 25, 2003.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, headaches, and low back disorders as the evidence did not support a medical nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and a psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his second period of service. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

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