Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for hypertension, including consideration of whether it is secondary to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bronchial asthma and hypertension, which were incurred during service, caused his death. The medical evidence supports this conclusion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and residuals of a stroke, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension was not caused or aggravated by his active duty service nor by any service-connected disability, including anxiety disorder.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. Service connection was also granted for rhinosinusitis, but an earlier effective date is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is not established as incurred in or aggravated by service. Service connection for gastritis and vertigo are granted, with gastritis being secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that there is a need to verify the Veteran's periods of service and obtain his complete medical records, including mental health clinic or mental hygiene records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, skin disorder, and hypertension are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected cirrhosis of the liver caused his hypertension, which is now considered secondary to his hepatitis C. The Board has granted a 100% evaluation for hypertension as it is deemed to be related to his service-connected cirrhosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neurological disorder, hemorrhoids/bleeding rupture, kidney disease/kidney cysts, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The hypertension claim remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has requested a Travel Board hearing for the Veteran due to his request, and will not make a decision on the merits of the case until after this hearing is scheduled.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but has not reached a final decision on their merits. The Veteran's tuberculosis was denied as not having been incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of service-connected atrial fibrillation and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in evaluation beyond the current 10 percent ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's hypertension and low back disability were granted service connection, with the effective date being December 22, 2007. The initial ratings for both conditions are 20 percent and 10 percent respectively.

The Veteran's hypertension is being evaluated for an increased rating. He also seeks service connection for ED and a psychiatric disorder, as well as reopening his claim for bilateral shin splints.,The Veteran asserts that his ED may be caused or aggravated by his hypertension medications. His psychiatric disability claim involves seeking service connection for anxiety and depression.,The Veteran is seeking to reopen his claim for bilateral shin splints. The Board finds the current psychiatric claim a new claim based upon distinctly diagnosed diseases, as it includes diagnoses of anxiety and depression.,VA will seek SSA records and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development records related to the Veteran's claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a right ear disability, and a back disability. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing that any of these conditions were present in service or are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for low back disability and hypertension are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of causation or aggravation, and thus, the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claim.