Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for condyloma acuminatum, depression, sterility, and hypertension as claimed due to herbicide exposure. The veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence demonstrating a current disorder and a link between the disorder and his active service.

The Board found that hypertension and coronary artery disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and are not proximately due to the veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increase ratings, and individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and coronary artery disease are caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As such, these conditions have been granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's hypertension is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD, or any other factors. The examiner will also assess if the veteran's PTSD caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Board found that the veteran's cardiomyopathy with pulmonary hypertension is not etiologically related to his service-connected residuals of empyema.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal of his original claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, including hypertension. The veteran withdrew his appeal at an August 1992 hearing.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for further development due to incomplete VA treatment records and conflicting opinions from VA physicians regarding whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus aggravated the hypertension.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to a need for a new VA examination and readjudication of his claim.

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

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment, and the Board denies a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and missing Social Security Administration records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors supporting a diagnosis of PTSD.,The Board also found that there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's current hypertension to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The veteran's hypertension was evaluated at a 10 percent rating from July 25, 2001 to October 18, 2004 and at a 20 percent rating since October 19, 2004. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and major depressive disorder, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hypertension is related to elevated blood pressure readings during service, and thus grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and hypertension as secondary to the veteran's service-connected PTSD. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension and hypertensive cardiovascular disease are related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current benign prostatic hypertrophy, peptic ulcer disease, hypertension, arthritis, and lung disability are not related to service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC benefits are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.