Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2011

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and found new and material evidence. However, it was not able to establish a direct link between the Veteran's current hypertension and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension and the current severity of his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for high cholesterol and a higher rating for bilateral cataracts. The remaining issues of service connection for hypertension, enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction, and an increased rating for dermatitis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran was granted service connection for a skin condition (acne keloidalis nuchae), residuals of left foot fracture, and bilateral hearing loss disability. Service connection for hypertension was not established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, prostate cancer, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further development. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened but remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his third period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's request for a Travel Board hearing, and the claims are not ready for appellate review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying the Veteran's dates of active duty. The claims are currently in a state where further action is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for migraine headaches, bilateral otitis externa, and malignant hypertension with hypertensive vascular disease were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, PTSD, depression, allergic rhinitis, and gastritis are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection. Service connection for glaucoma and hypertension were denied as secondary to a service-connected disability, but the claim is pending. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted an initial rating of 10 percent from February 14, 2004, to December 30, 2009, and a rating in excess of 20 percent beginning December 30, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and other conditions are not related to his service, including any potential nerve gas exposure in Iraq. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has ordered additional development to gather more information about the Veteran's claims for service connection, including examining his respiratory and skin conditions and determining if they are related to his active duty service or asbestos exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The evidence did not establish a link between his PTSD or herbicide exposure and his current hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disease and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected appendectomy scar did not cause or contribute to his death, and there is no evidence linking his lung disease, coronary artery disease, and chronic renal dysfunction to his period of service. The preponderance of the medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, anxiety disorder (PTSD), and peripheral polyneuropathy of the upper extremities have been granted. Effective dates have also been established.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his hypertension and right knee disability.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise and affords the Veteran the full benefit of the doubt, granting service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found no evidence of a heart injury or disease in service, and the Veteran does not have current diagnosed conditions for heart disorder, hypertension, blood disorder, or COPD. Therefore, service connection is denied.