Hypertension (high blood pressure) decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for a sleep disorder and found that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service symptoms. The issue of an increased rating for hypertension is remanded as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, which was secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II, has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart disease, and GERD was aggravated by his period of active duty.,Service connection for both hypertension and GERD is granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a diagnosis of PTSD in accordance with DSM-IV, and thus could not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disability related to hypertension or diabetes mellitus type 2 during service, and the post-service treatment records do not provide sufficient evidence to establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia is found to have caused his substance abuse, which in turn contributed to his hypertension and diabetes control. This combination ultimately led to a fatal cerebral hemorrhage.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy due to conflicting opinions from a VA examiner. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding it at least as likely as not related to active duty. Service connection for high blood pressure was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by a service-connected disability and whether his alcohol abuse, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, or transient ischemic attacks were related to any such disability. The VA will obtain relevant medical records and provide an opinion on these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of pancreatitis and hypertension are not service connected, as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The Board finds that further development is necessary before it can determine the etiology of his other conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and PTSD, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is presumed for these conditions due to exposure in Vietnam or Thailand during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus are pending.

The appellant seeks recognition as a helpless child of the Veteran on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 years. The case is REMANDED due to insufficient evidence regarding his condition at the time of his eighteenth birthday.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and hypertension, finding that these conditions are not directly related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a travel board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened, and the evidence now supports this claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depression with psychosis), and hypertension have also been reopened. The evidence now supports these claims as well.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, finding that there was no evidence showing that his diabetes caused or aggravated his hypertension.

The Veteran's current hypertension was not shown to have onset in service or within one year thereafter, and there is no evidence of a nexus between his active duty service and the development of his condition. The Board finds that service connection for hypertension on a direct basis is denied.