Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding possible chemical exposures during his service.

The Board has determined that there is no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current kidney disability, hypertension, or swelling of the feet and legs to service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for kidney stones, skin cancer, hypertension, coronary artery disease, depression and anxiety, and PTSD have been granted based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and sinusitis due to additional evidentiary development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and missing post-service treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension will be reconsidered after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to be related to his military service and is not considered secondary to a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection for hypertension has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease) is dismissed. The Board finds that the Veteran has coronary artery disease, presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service.

The Board has determined that the Appellant did not sustain a collarbone fracture during active service, and his left knee disability and hypertension were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not establish an association between any lightning strike incident during service and his current conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his service-connected PTSD and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a retrospective medical opinion regarding whether her service-connected disabilities rendered her unemployable from April 5, 2006 to December 31, 2007. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining this information.

The Board has granted service connection for arterial hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, chronic venous insufficiency of the left and right lower extremities (claimed as poor circulation), and a heart condition all secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for diabetes mellitus type II is denied as the evidence does not show that his condition requires regulation of activities due to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury. As such, service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his cause of death, and there was no evidence linking any service-connected condition to his death. The appellant's claim for accrued benefits for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for service connection for left eye cataract is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bronchitis with asthmatic attacks and hypertension was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current disability, as there is no objective evidence of current chest pain or a disability related to her claimed chest pain apart from already service-connected conditions. For her hypertension, the 10% evaluation assigned was deemed appropriate given the Veteran's history and current findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral eye disability related to active service, and his sleep apnea is not related to active service. Hypertension was presumed due to Agent Orange exposure but is not considered secondary to any service-connected condition. The low back/hip disability and skin cancer are also not related to active service or secondary to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's initial disability evaluation for hypertension was granted at a noncompensable level, and the Board finds that an increase to any higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.