Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection effective September 12, 2006. The claim for bilateral corneal abrasions is reopened and the issue of service connection for PTSD is granted with a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability and hypertension, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during active duty or within one year after separation from active duty. The Board also found no evidence of chronicity of symptoms post-service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II or ischemic heart disease/coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as the conditions at issue are not found to be related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the appellant's current hypertension was not incurred in service and is not related to his active service or any incident therein, nor is it causally related to or aggravated by any service-connected disability, including PTSD.

The Veteran's stomach disability and hypertension are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension was incurred during his period of active service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service, while his hypertension does not appear to be linked to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal regarding his claims of service connection for heart disease, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The claim of service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia was denied due to lack of evidence of exposure to herbicides or service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung cancer, which was a principal cause of his death, is related to his in-service asbestos exposure. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, hypertension, and an involuntary movement disorder were denied as there was no showing of continuity of symptomatology or a nexus to service. The Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is not presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's disabilities are caused by or complications of his diabetes mellitus. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and remand instructions not being followed, specifically regarding the relationship between hypertension and service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an examination to determine if hypertension is related to service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development and adjudication of his service connection claims for major depressive disorder, hypertension, carotid artery constriction, and left leg and ankle disabilities. The case will be readjudicated after these issues are resolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine if his current cervical spine and cardiovascular disorders are related to his military service, including any periods of active duty, inactive duty training, or National Guard service. The VA will verify these periods and provide appropriate examinations to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a heart condition or hypertension during service, and the Veteran's current cardiovascular disorders are not shown to have manifested within one year of separation. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, defective vision, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction due to herbicide exposure. The conditions were not found to be related to active duty service or presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the appellant does not have hypertension that manifested in service or for years following service discharge, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and searching for Alabama Army National Guard records. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of direct service connection.