Hypertension (high blood pressure) Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the appellant is in need of aid and attendance due to her physical and mental incapacity, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect herself from hazards and dangers incident to her daily environment. Aid and attendance benefits are therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and there is no evidence linking any of his current disabilities (pseudofolliculitis barbae, sleep apnea, or hypertension) to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral arterial vascular disease and small cell lymphoma of the lacrimal lens, postoperative as secondary to diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. Service connection for hypertension was denied as not being secondary to diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for diabetes mellitus with nephropathy is pending.

The veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraines. The TDIU claim remains pending, and the increased rating for headaches on an extra-schedular basis is also pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As a result, the claim for service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 14, 2002 for the grant of a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that there was no evidence of an informal claim or written intent to file a claim for service connection before June 14, 2002.

The Board found that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred during his military service and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, or arthritis of the left shoulder. The claims for these conditions are denied as they were not incurred in service and there is no evidence linking them to service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of hypertension, low back disorder, or prostate disorder that is related to service. Service connection was denied for all three conditions.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by being housebound is remanded due to additional development needed, including obtaining treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of death, accrued benefits, and death pension due to lack of qualifying military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for right hip arthritis was granted. The claim for reopening his hypertension was also granted, and he is now rated at 100% for PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a back disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of these conditions during or immediately after service, and that any current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Board found no evidence of the claimed conditions during or within one year after service, and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear disorder, hypertension, and back pain. The petition to reopen her claim for PTSD (claimed as due to sexual trauma) is pending.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for diminished sex drive, gastroesophageal reflex disorder (GERD), aching joints, ulcers, COPD, hypertension, conjunctivitis, sleep apnea, melanoma, and dermatitis. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of hypertension, atherosclerotic heart disease, or cardiovascular disease during service or within one year after service. The veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 is presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Service connection was denied for these conditions as they are not directly related to the veteran's active duty service.