Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2008

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of hypertension, PTSD, or erectile dysfunction. The veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions during his active duty.,Service connection for hypertension was denied as the condition did not manifest within one year post-service and there is no medical evidence linking it to service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II. Service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis, and service connection for erectile dysfunction was also denied.

The veteran's claims of service connection for painful joints and muscles, PTSD, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and CAD. The denial is based on a lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors related to PTSD, and the absence of in-service events that would support a finding of combat participation.

The Board has granted service connection for xerosis and other conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, vertigo, chronic fatigue syndrome, folliculitis, right ankle disability, aphthous ulcers, sinus tachycardia, rhinosinusitis, hypertension, migraine headaches, and bilateral hearing loss. The psychiatric condition is also service connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, hypertension, and COPD to include as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Board found no current diagnosis of a low back disorder and noted that there was no evidence of hypertension within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular accident with peripheral vascular disease and bilateral below the knee amputations are secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran's claimed conditions were not found to be related to service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. Service connection was denied for all issues.

The Board found that the veteran's heart disease, including coronary artery disease and hypertension, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board also determined that it is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected hypertension, which is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his diastolic pressure being predominantly below 110 and his systolic pressure being predominantly below 200.

The Board has determined that the veteran's orthostatic hypotension is a distinct disability from his service-connected hypertension and grants a separate 10 percent disability rating for it.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of stressor events and VA examinations to determine service connection for PTSD and hypertension.

The Board finds that the veteran's current hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7101, as there is no history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more requiring continuous medication.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his headaches, hypertension, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it was first diagnosed within one year of the veteran's separation from service. Service connection for hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol) is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hypertension.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine if service connection can be established for skin disability, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that new evidence submitted since previous decisions does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Board found that the veteran's PVD was not incurred during service and is not related to his PTSD or any other service-connected condition. The Board also noted that hypertension and cardiomyopathy were not connected to his service-connected conditions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, which was claimed as secondary to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus, has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran.