Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Board found 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 evidence did not establish a nexus between the current condition and military service.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim and thus, new and material evidence has not been received. As a result, the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic heart disorder, including her heart murmur, is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset and causation of her current conditions.

The Board granted service connection for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and an increased rating of service-connected PTSD to 70 percent disabling. The Veteran is also currently service connected for tinnitus, rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for PTSD at the August 2010 hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypertension. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his hypertension on an aggravation basis due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board found that the Appellant did not have a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA) after January 1978, and therefore could not establish service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or renal failure incurred during such periods. The claims were denied.

The Board found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service, and is not proximately due to or the result of any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, degenerative joint disease of the ankles, peripheral neuropathy, osteoarthritis of the shoulders, and hypertension, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected left knee arthritis did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and is not otherwise related to his active service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for gout, obstructive sleep apnea, right and left heel spurs. The claim of service connection for hypertension was reopened but ultimately denied on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for mechanical low back pain, service connection for numbness and weakness of both arms and hands (with a separate evaluation for right leg neurologic manifestations), and hypertension were all denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for numbness and weakness of both arms and hands with a separate evaluation.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and hypertension, status post pacemaker implant and aortic valve replacement were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was reopened and granted. Service connection for hypertension, claimed as due to diabetes mellitus and herbicide exposure, was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and high cholesterol have been denied due to a lack of competent evidence showing a current diagnosis or treatment related to these conditions during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for hypertension secondary to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and further examination is needed for both hypertension and right knee disability.