Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not show a nexus to service.

The Board has denied all issues on appeal except the claim for a higher initial evaluation for tinnitus, which is addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension did not arise during service or as a result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining the Veteran's service personnel records to determine if he served in Vietnam and for re-adjudication of the claims regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and instructed the RO to obtain additional medical records from May 1981.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is service-connected, and he is granted a rating of 10 percent for his right knee condition. His hypertension is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current left knee disorder was incurred in or aggravated by his active service. The claim for hypertension is also denied as there is no specific medical testing to confirm the presence of hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow, left shoulder, bilateral knee, and hypertension disorders due to a lack of competent evidence showing current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for migraine headaches and hypertension are granted. The Board finds credible the Veteran's report of having headaches since service, and resolves all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran is seeking earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and TDIU. The Board has determined that these claims are inextricably intertwined with his pending service connection claims.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted service connection. Service connection for hypertension, secondary to PTSD/major depressive disorder, remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is attributable to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher evaluations, finding that the most recent effective date of October 18, 2005, was appropriate for his service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension from March 20, 2005 was found not to meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and high cholesterol, as well as his request for an increased evaluation for duodenitis with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for hypertension. Service connection was also denied for high cholesterol because it is not a disability for VA compensation purposes. The Veteran's duodenitis with GERD was rated at 20 percent, effective from December 2005.

The Board has determined that hypertension was manifested during active service and granted the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and records. The hypertension claim is being reviewed, and the erectile dysfunction claim will be considered once the hypertension issue is resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on a confirmed in-service stressor and continuity of symptomatology. The other issues are addressed below.

The Veteran's hypertension is not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that it is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. Therefore, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation is proximately due to or the result of service-incurred hypertension, and thus grants service connection for this condition.